AIRDRIE equalled a United club record on Saturday with a sixth win on the trot.

Jimmy Boyle's side moved three points clear in fourth place in the Irn-Bru Second Division as they eye a promotion play-off spot.

Airdrie made three changes to the side which defeated Stenhousemuir 3-0 at Ochilview last Saturday.

Skipper Paul Lovering returned from a ban in place of Ricki Lamie while Nathan Blockley deputised for the suspended Sean Lynch. Midfielder Jamie Stevenson was preferred to Jamie Bain.

The Diamonds opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Stevenson fed Ryan Donnelly on the right-hand side and his low cross was tapped home from a yard by Derek Holmes.

In the 14th minute, the advantage was doubled when star striker Donnelly, with his back to goal, turned and fired a wonderful shot into the top corner of Craig Nelson's net.

Airdrie added a third goal eight minutes later from the penalty spot. Blockley was shoved in the box by Paul McLean and Lovering converted from 12 yards.

The visitors rallied towards the end of the first half and pulled one back in the 31st minute; substitute Bryan Hodge, who had earlier replaced Charlie King, heading home a Paul McManus cross.

In the 54th minute, Brechin came close to making a game of it when a Craig Molloy strike from distance just cleared Grant Adam's bar.

However, the Diamonds responded midway through a low-key second half with Blockley heading straight at Nelson from a Lovering delivery.

Donnelly then lofted an effort over Nelson but just past the post before Airdrie made it 4-1 with four minutes remaining.

A deep cross from the excellent Lovering was nodded to the near post by Bain for Holmes to knock in his sixth goal of the season.

Colin Paterson at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.