Airdrieonians remain bottom of League One after Frank McKeown earned Stranraer a point at New Broomfield on Saturday.

The Diamonds fielded an unchanged starting line-up for the first time this season following the surprise 1-0 win at Dunfermline Athletic last weekend.

But it was the visitors who came close with the opening chance of the afternoon and keeper Grant Adam was at his best to tip Andy Stirling's shot over the bar.

Stranraer almost broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when Martin Grehan's drive from just outside the box rattled the bar. The striker then turned over an effort from close range.

McKeown was next to have a go for Stevie Aitken's men, when he headed Stirling's free-kick into the box over the bar, and those missed opportunities would come back to haunt Stranraer three minutes later.

For a swift counter-attacking move saw Airdrie break the deadlock. Caolan McAleer fed Keigan Parker and his low cross was prodded into the net by Jim Lister for his third goal of the season.

It could have been 2-0 in the 41st minute for Gary Bollan's side but McAleer, having been given time and space to shoot from 25 yards, saw his shot cannon off the outside of keeper David Mitchell's right-hand post.

The second half was industrious and short on quality with Stranraer making most of the running as they searched for a leveller.

And their efforts were rewarded in the 70th minute when McKeown's powerful downward header, from a Mark Docherty cross, beat Adam.

Airdrie are now a point behind ninth-placed Arbroath who lost 3-2 at Rangers and seven points adrift of an automatic survival slot ahead of next Saturday's trip to Forfar Athletic.

Colin Paterson at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.