THERE wasn't much to celebrate at New Broomfield on Saturday as Airdrie suffered defeat at the hands of Stenny.

Gary Smith hit a double for the Warriors who took an early lead through Sean Dickson as they put a dent in the Diamonds' top-four hopes.

Boss Jimmy Boyle made one change to the side which drew at Brechin City with Jamie Bain replacing the suspended Cameron MacDonald. Under-19 player Ricki Lamie was included among the substitutes.

The visitors were missing the suspended pair of Ross McMillan and Kevin McKinlay and knew a defeat by three clear goals would see the Diamonds leapfrog them in the SFL2 table.

But those absences did not prevent them taking the lead in the fourth minute. Jamie Campbell did well to cut the ball back for Sean Dickson who fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

Airdrie should have equalised in the 15th minute but Willie McLaren, who latched onto a John Boyle flick-on, placed his shot wide of keeper Ally Brown's left-hand post.

Clearcut chances were few and far between for the hosts in a disappointing first half although Brown was forced to deal with efforts from Jamie Stevenson and Ryan Donnelly.

In the 42nd minute, Warriors striker Stewart Kean attempted a volley from just outside the box but the ball crept wide, much to the relief of Diamonds keeper Grant Adam.

Airdrie made two substitutions at the break with Graeme Owens and Derek Holmes coming on for Bain and Boyle.

However, they soon found themselves part of a team which was 2-0 down with on-loan Motherwell striker Gary Smith guiding a Kean cross in off the post.

Airdrie were undone a third time in the 66th minute. Linesman Paul O'Neill's flag stayed down as Smith got on the end of a Kean ball and slotted past the exposed Adam.

With six minutes of a disappointing afternoon left, a volley by Owens from just outside the area, crashed off the bar.

Colin Paterson at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.