A goal in either half consigned Airdrie to home defeat as Acting Head Coach Danny Lennon took charge of the Diamonds for his first game against relegation threatened Brechin City.

It was to be fifth time lucky for Darren Dods side who had lost twice and drawn once in the previous league meetings, while also being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Airdrie.

A familiar face returned to Airdrie with former Diamond Liam Coogans lining up as a substitute for the visitors.

David Cox fired the ball over the goal on two minutes after an Alan Lithgow throw in was headed clear and fell to him on the edge of the penalty area.

A minute later Lithgow headed a near post corner delivery just wide of Brechin keeper Graeme Smith’s goal.

Seven minutes into the match Neil Parry collected the ball as Paul McLean head flicked a free kick delivery for goal.

Some speculative long range shooting followed from both sides but neither keeper was being tested.

Brechin fashioned a couple of chances but Dods headed over the target in 33 minutes and McLean fired the ball straight at Parry two minutes later.

Airdrie went close on the 38-minute mark after Lithgow’s long throw was touched on by Marc Fitzpatrick to David Cox at the back post, whose low drilled shot was well taken by Smith at his right post.

The visitors took the lead in the 43rd minute. Andy Jackson took advantage when the ball broke to him to the right of goal and sized up his angles before firing a low powerful shot into the opposite corner of net past Parry to open the scoring.

A Dods challenge on Jim Lister in first half stoppage time saw the City player-manager fortunate to only be given a yellow card.

Danny Lennon made a double switch 11 minutes into the second half but he had to change his plans further five minutes later when Cox fell to the ground after trying to turn quickly on the half way line and needed to be stretchered from the field.

When the match restarted with Airdrie chasing the match, it was the visitors who added a second in 66 minutes. Lewis Spence, on loan from Dunfermline, struck a well-timed 35-yard volley for goal, over the retreating Parry into the net. They retained the two-goal margin until the final whistle.

The win was a boost to the visitor’s survival in League One this season. Airdrie remain in fourth after Rovers defeat by Stranraer with all three clubs having the same points total and only separated by goal difference.

John O'Brien at New Broomfield.

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