AIRDRIE suffered derby-day disaster as Albion Rovers claimed the local bragging rights.

The men from Coatbridge scored seven goals at Cliftonhill on Saturday with the Diamonds well-beaten.

Airdrie made four changes to the side which lost 3-1 to East Fife with Chris Malone, Graeme Owens, Scott Morton and Scott Sally drafted into the starting line-up.

Paul Lovering missed out due to suspension with Fraser Keast and Sean Lynch both injured. Striker Derek Holmes dropped to the bench.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Scott Chaplain headed home a Tony Stevenson corner but Airdrie levelled when Jamie Stevenson fired a Morton cross into the net.

However, the home side scored twice more before the break with Chaplain lobbing keeper Connor Fairley and Mick O'Byrne heading in a Stevenson free-kick.

It was 4-1 in the 57th minute when John Gemmell brushed aside Fairley and slotted the ball into the net from a narrowing angle.

Airdrie were awarded a penalty four minutes later but Owens' spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Derek Gaston.

The home side then went straight up the park and scored a fifth goal with Gemmell's powerful low drive proving too much for Fairley who fumbled it into the net.

The Diamonds made it 5-2 in the 74th minute when Owens netted from the spot after Alan Reid had fouled Ryan Donnelly in the area.

David Lilley was then sent-off – Airdrie's fifth red card in five games – before Rovers wrapped it up with two goals late-on.

Chaplain bundled the ball home for his hat-trick goal and O'Byrne sent the home fans wild with a delightful strike from just outside the box.

Colin Paterson at Cliftonhill.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.