18/01/03 Parscelona 6 ClydebankAirdrie 6

January 18th 2003

St Leonards, Dunfermline

A winter break might be in force in the SPL but there was no such rest for Parscelona, who followed their cup game against Erin Hibs by playing host to visitors Airdrie. With the pitch pronounced playable despite recent bad weather the stage was set for what turned out to be one of the most exciting and enjoyable Parscelona games in a long time.

Things did not start well for Parscelona. An early goal was conceded when a high cross was headed home amid Keith Mackie's claims that he was fouled.

It went from bad to worse when Airdrie were awarded a penalty. With Jim Norris lucky not to concede one for his lunge at the back of an Airdrie player, Mark Falconer made sure by hauling him down instead. Keith Mackie got a hand to the kick but could not keep it out.

Parscelona were given a temporary reprieve when Airdrie's next good chance was directed onto the post, but it was short lived. A through ball found a huge gap in the middle of Parsca's defence and a cheeky striker popped in to nutmeg Mackie.

Parsca were not without chances - Alan Maxwell fired a crap effort into the side netting, Colin McKean flashed one across the goal and just past the post, and Fraser Adamson couldn't quite his head all the way over Alan's cross. Airdrie got a few more efforts but were denied by poor finishing or good saves from Keith Mackie.

At this point I would write about Parscelona going into the break three-down, except apparently Airdrie scored a fourth. I can't remember it at all myself, but I've been informed it was quite similar to their third. How's that for quality reporting.

There was no doubt that the first half had belonged to Airdrie, but a rousing half time team talk by captain and blind Parsca veteran Colin McKean made sure the second half was a totally different story.

It seemed like a new team that Parsca put out in the second half. In truth, it was, thanks to a lottery-funded research project which has seen Parscelona develop a group of cybernetic replicant footballers who, er, sorry, I've just realised I'm not supposed to talk about that. Where was I...

Ah yes, Parscelona's battling second half comeback.

Alan Maxwell's through ball to Fraser Adamson was first headed by an Airdrie fullback before dropping to the feet of a centre half. He was quickly dispossessed by Fraser however, and the oncoming goalkeeper was lobbed beautifully to give Fraser his first Parscelona goal. And a quality effort it was, too.

Colin McKean then sent Alan Maxwell through on goal. Evading a desperate lunge from an Airdrie defender, Alan's shot was parried by the keeper. He couldn't direct it far enough away though and Alan leapt the goalkeeper to fire the ball home.

A comeback seemed to be a little less likely when Airdrie grabbed a fifth goal. Some good play by an Airdrie attacker carved out the opening to fire a high shot in from the edge of the box, which looked at first to be going into Keith's hands until... well, Keith's made lots of great saves for us, so let's not dwell on this one, okay?

Fraser Adamson pulled it back to 5-3 when his tricky wing play was followed by a well-hit shot from a remarkably tight angle, which somehow squeezed its way past the Airdrie keeper.

The gap was reduced to one when a handball in the Airdrie box allowed Alan Maxwell to score from the spot.

Before Parscelona had a chance to equalise however, Airdrie notched up another. Their troublesome attacker waltzed through the defence with ease and gave Mackie no chance.

Colin McKean then hit the post for Parscelona, but they were not to be denied much longer.

Chris Ozog arrived on the scene to score a fifth for the home team. I'm not entirely sure what happened in the build-up to the goal as I was still writing down all the previous efforts and looked up just in time to see him poke it past the keeper. I'll assume it was from some Brazilian-like passing play all the way from our own box, or something.

Similarly, no sooner had I finished writing down Zog's effort than I looked up to see Johnnie MacDougall grabbing an equaliser from 10 yards out. No idea how this came about either. Not exactly quality reporting, but at least I'm not Chic Young.

Parscelona squad: K. Mackie, N. Holland, R. McGregor, C. Lister, C. Norris, F. Adamson, J. MacDougall, M. Falconer, C. McKean, J. Wilson, M. Driver, C. Ozog, A. Maxwell, P. Wordie, J. Hunkin, Alex Mercer (referee)