Airdrie are now up against it in the push for the promotion playoffs after an uninspiring defeat at Forfar Athletic.

Goals from Martyn Fotheringham and Michael Dunlop sent the Loons to the top of the table with other results going against the visitors.

Morton, Brechin, Dunfermline and Peterhead won in the other matches of the day leaving the latter pair just a point behind the Diamonds who are six points adrift of the playoffs with nine to play for.

Dick Campbell's men were in the driving seat for much of the match with the first big chance coming ten minutes in.

Iain Campbell swung in a corner which was met by the head of Michael Travis. Andy McNeill missed the ball but Paddy Boyle was able to clear the danger away from the six yard box.

Next it was the turn of the attacking trio to combine as Chris Templeman played through Gavin Swankie, however Jamie Bain managed to slide in to prevent Dale Hilson getting a shot away.

Airdrie didn't make the most of their first two chances, a header from Liam Lindsay and a shot from Scott Fraser both going over the bar.

Just before the half hour mark they were made to rue the errors and a calamity at the back gifted the Loons the lead.

Hilson played through Templeman but he couldn't quite connect to it leaving Luca Gasparotto and Andy McNeill to decide who would clear the danger. Indecisiveness from both allowed Fotheringham to nick in and slot the ball into the empty net for the opener.

They could have made it 2-0 shortly after had Swankie's cross found a teammate with McNeill even missing it and bringing down Lindsay.

Five minutes later a free kick from Campbell was headed down by Templeman and a scramble in the box left the ball in the net but a foul was given on McNeill by referee Euan Anderson.

Just before the break Fraser played a nice ball through to Prunty but Campbell slid in to prevent him getting there allowing Douglas to clear.

Shortly into the second half Boyle was forced off by injury, replaced by O'Neil who helped link up another Airdrie chance.

The young defender allowed Fraser to pass to Marc Fitzpatrick whose shot was deflected for a corner. Ross Docherty hit it out to Nathan Blockley and headed it in to Gasparotto but his shot was wide.

Bain then had a good run in but his cross-cum-shot deflected off Darren Dods into the hands of Douglas.

Straight on the counter the ball came down the other end and McNeill almost conceded from a pass back with his clearance hitting off Hilson and nearly going in.

Fraser nearly put the ball into his own net a minute later after a ball across the face of goal from Swankie.

Then a free kick from Campbell was swept in and Travis headed just wide.

Ten minutes later McNeill was forced to make his first proper save of the afternoon with a great save from Hilson at distance.

Forfar were having the better chances and it was about to pay off.

With five minutes to go a cross came in from Travis finding Dods who brilliantly laid it off to Dunlop to head in the second goal.

No shots on target will have disappointed the travelling supporters, who then had the league table to look at with three important games to go.

Results in other matches will be important ahead of a home tie against Ayr before a trip to Peterhead and welcoming Dunfermline on the last day of the season.