Peterhead manager Jim McInally was left with thoughts of what might have been after his side went down 2-0 to Airdrie in their first League 1 game of the season.
A bright start against the Diamonds was hampered by an injury to Simon Ferry with Airdrie taking the lead just before half-time thanks to Dale Carrick penalty.
Gary Mackenzie and Isaac Layne were both forced off just before the hosts’ Callum Fordyce grabbed their second goal with 19 minutes left and there was no way back after that.
Jim said: “For the first half hour we were the better team. Isaac had their defence on toast and Andy McCarthy was excellent at that time and for the rest of the game. So much so Airdrie fouled him eight times but the referee never picked up on it.”
“In saying that those 30 minutes as well as the rest of the game was of a pretty poor standard. A draw would have been a fairer result especially when you consider we were not opened up by their goals came from a penalty and a corner.”
“We were in control of the game but we lost bodies at key times. Simon went off when we were on top and then Gary, who was winning everything at the back, went off before they scored their second from a corner. That second goal would not have come if Gary was still on the pitch.”
“We had to make a triple substitution and once we settled down after that we tried to take the game to Airdrie however things just fizzled out. We never looked like scoring and neither did they.”
Jim found positives saying: “If you look at the fact that Airdrie think they have a chance of winning the league there was not much in it. Things are not too bad when you consider that.”
© Craig Stewart/ Peterhead Football Club
