Airdrie win sets up Premier Sports Cup showdown cracker
Goals from Euan Henderson and Lewis McGrattan handed Airdrie a 2-1 Premier Sports Cup win over Montrose last night, that sets up a C 'winner takes it all' showdown at home to Alloa Athletic at New Broomfield on Saturday.
A late rally from Montrose wasn't enough to stop the Diamonds from going top of the group on goal difference, with both themselves and Alloa on maximum nine points from their three games so far.
Two goals in six second-half minutes sent Airdrie through.
Henderson opened the scoring in 56 minutes, when he darted down the left flank and tried to pick out Chris Mochrie. Though the Diamonds No.7 didn't get a touch on the ball, he did enough to put off the Montrose defence and the cross squeezed in at the far post.
McGrattan netted the second in 62 and Henderson was again the architect, driving in from the left and forcing a save from Campbell Millar, and while Henderson was tripped by a defender, McGrattan steered the ball in.
Ewan Loudon beat Cade Melrose with a powerful effort from just inside the box, as the Diamonds conceded for the first time in the group stages, but it wasn't enough to prevent Airdrie from going through.
Airdrie had other chances to score, and in 10 minutes Jamie Barjonas sent Henderson through on Aaron Clark, who did well to block with his foot.
Loudon had a chance to net the rebound from a Melrose save, but Sean McGinty bravely blocked to keep the score at 0-0.
Alex King and Liam McStravick had efforts blocked, before Dylan MacDonald's cross was headed wide by McStravick.
McStravick sent an effort curling past the top corner as the half remained goal-less.
Airdrie took the lead, and Mochrie sent an effort whistling past a post moments later.
Henderson curled an effort over in 71 minutes, following good play by Mochrie.
Montrose pulled a goal back and a flurry of free kicks around the Airdrie box made for a nervy end to the match, but the closest the hosts came was when sub Matheus Machado sent an effort narrowly over.
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