The Diamonds continue to seek their return to winning ways following a defeat by Stenhousemuir despite battling for half an hour after being reduced to ten men.

Simon Mensing made his debut for the club at Ochilview, having received international clearance on Friday.

The home side were looking to make a bright start and with seven minutes gone Rohan Ferguson was alert to gather Oliver Shaw’s back post header which was on target at the keeper’s left post.

Andy Ryan was providing Airdrie’s main threat and fired a 20 yard shot high over Colin McCabe’s goal in 10 minutes.

The Diamonds' top scorer had another attempt blocked by central defender David Marsh three minutes later, and somehow the home back line were able to clear his 20th minute netbound effort and the clear the danger.

Willis Furtado curled a 20 yard shot into the middle of Ferguson’s goal and he was able to collect the ball easily in 26 minutes, but on the half hour mark former Diamond Alan Cook sent over a cross cum shot from the left with the ball striking the back post and landing in the back of the net.

Cook went close again a minute later with a drilled angled shot from the left that Ferguson gathered.

Midfielder Vince Berry blasted a shot from the well outside the box, high over Ferguson’s goal in 38 minutes.

Two minutes from the break top scorer Ryan displayed his striking instincts. Ryan Conroy’s free kick saw Sean McIntosh send in a header for goal and McCabe could only push the ball back out while Ryan raced in to send the loose ball into the net.

Mensing joined the attack in 48 minutes and headed an Adam Brown corner wide of the target. Kyle Hutton’s through ball three minutes later picked out Ryan, who took the ball wide then drilled it into the side netting.

A quick free kick between Conroy and Brown led to Brown sending in a 30 yard shot that keeper McCabe turned away for a corner.

A four minute spell turned the match on it’s head. In 61 minutes Ryan raced in behind the home defence and tried to take the ball wide left, when one to one with the keeper, but McCabe’s outstretched leg sent the ball wide and the home defence cleared.

A minute later Cook made the most as the Diamond defence backtracked seeking the opportunity to drill a low 20 yard shot through the ruck of players into the left corner of net past Ferguson to put the home side in front again.

After 64 minutes a late challenge from Jack Leitch in the middle of the park saw him sent off by the referee.

Airdrie battled back and squared the match for a second time. Again it came from a set piece as Brown’s delivery into the box saw Joe Gorman race in past the static back line and send the ball past McCabe in 70 minutes.

Colin McMenamin fired a shot against the post two minutes later.

In 81 minutes Scott Stewart fired a volley from 20 yards out which McCabe pushed away for a corner.

Four minutes from time McMenamin fired a shot from just outside the box that took a wicked deflection on the way into the net.

Airdrie pushed for a third equaliser in the closing minutes winning a corner. The home side cleared and Furtado sent Carlos Manzana clear. The substitute raced to the edge of the box then clipped the ball over Ferguson to seal the points.