Stranraer moved closer to securing fourth place with a comfortable win over Airdrieonians.

It was the Diamonds heaviest league defeat of the campaign.

The home side were quickly out of the blocks and forced an early corner that was defended well.

After five minutes Mark McGuigan was on the end of a Craig Pettigrew cross but the former Rovers man headed wide of the goal.

Jim Lister had a snapshot on target a minute later, but Cameron Belford was down low to gather.

Craig Malcolm and Ryan Thomson were then off target with efforts but the home side took the lead in 11 minutes, after Malcolm rose to meet Andy Stirling’s cross and head the past Neil Parry high into the corner of the net.

Sean Crighton headed Jordan Thomson’s corner wide of the target in 14 minutes, although the defender was on target in 21 minutes only to see keeper Belford collect the ball comfortably.

With 14 minutes of the half remaining Stranraer had a free kick just outside the penalty area after Chris O’Neil fouled Stirling. Parry had little chance with Willie Gibson’s powerful curling free kick as it clipped the underside of the bar on its way into the net.

The keeper did really well to get down low to make a save at his near post from Pettigrew, after Gibson and Pettigrew had worked a quick free kick five minutes from the interval.

Stirling drilled a low shot against Parry’s left post with three minutes of the half remaining.

After the break, Paul Cairney had a couple of excellent efforts on target, both bringing the best out in Parry who collected the first and pushed the second over the top of his goal.

Lister picked up an injury as he tried to intercept a poor backpass, but Belford got there before him and caught the striker who came off after 72 minutes.

The home side added a couple of goals in the last 12 minutes. Stirling picked up a misplaced pass then fired the ball past Parry and two minutes from time, substitute Kyle Turner fired in the goal of the game, into the postage stamp corner of the net.

The four goal margin allowed Albion Rovers to move into fifth spot.

Results elsewhere sees six sides in the table now separated by six points, with four games remaining.

John O'Brien at Stair Park.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full-size.