AIRDRIE paid the penalty as Second Division leaders Cowdenbeath came back to secure a point.

Sean Lynch put the Diamonds ahead at New Broomfield on Saturday but Mark Ramsay equalised early in the second half.

Manager Jimmy Boyle made four changes to the side following the dramatic comeback on Wednesday night at Arbroath.

Grant Adam, Ricki Lamie, Lynch and John Boyle were included in the starting line-up. Andrew Duncan and Willie McLaren dropped to the bench with Kieron Stallard and Graeme Owens missing out completely.

Cowdenbeath could have gone ahead in the sixth minute but on-loan Rangers keeper Adam did well to block Marc McKenzie's shot.

Not much was created at either end of the pitch in a hard-fought first-half although the Blue Brazil were shading it in terms of the play.

However, it was Airdrie who broke the deadlock in the 39th minute thanks to a terrific fourth goal of the season from Lynch.

He brilliantly volleyed the ball into the corner of the net after Derek Holmes knocked a Nathan Blockley cross to the edge of the area into his path.

But Cowdenbeath levelled in the 50th minute when Ramsay converted from the spot after referee Calum Murray penalised David Lilley for a foul on Scott Linton in the area.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between in the second half. McKenzie came close for the visitors with a Holmes shot flying wide at the other end in the 67th minute.

Colin Paterson at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.