AIRDRIE moved into the SFL2 promotion play-off zone following a comfortable win at Ochilview.

Jimmy Boyle's in-form team went into fourth place on goal difference ahead of East Fife on Saturday night.

Goals from Sean Lynch, Willie McLaren and substitute Nathan Blockley sank the Warriors and ensured a fifth successive clean-sheet victory for Airdrie.

The only negative point of the afternoon arrived in the first minute of second-half injury-time when Lynch was red-carded after picking up a second caution.

Boyle stuck with the starting XI which defeated Stirling Albion and was rewarded with the opening goal in the seventh minute.

A McLaren cross found Donnelly and his ball was blocked into the path of Lynch who curled a shot in off the post.

Stenny were rarely a threat in the final third of the pitch but keeper Grant Adam was equal to the task when they did break through with Grant Anderson denied.

On the half-hour mark, the Diamonds were awarded a penalty when Iain Thomson barged into top goalscorer Donnelly in the box.

McLaren stepped up but, despite sending keeper Ally Brown the wrong way, smacked his spot-kick effort off the bar.

The winger would atone for his missed opportunity moments before the break when he fired a free-kick into the net from just outside the box.

Stenny made changes in the second half in a bid to turn the tide but couldn't get the better of a terrific back four and the flawless Adam.

With nine minutes left, Airdrie scored a third goal when a cross-shot from Blockley floated into the top corner with Brown stranded.

Colin Paterson at Ochilview Park.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.