Goals from David Brownlie and Darryl Duffy had Airdrie deservedly ahead against Queen’s Park, but Adam Cummins' late effort ensured a nervy ending.

 

Manager Stevie Findlay had made one change for the visit of the Spiders with Jordan McGregor replacing Josh Edwards.

 

The Diamonds were looking to extend their unbeaten run of eight successive home league matches, going back to September last year. 

 

A free kick in the third minute from midfielder Tom Fry was met by David Brownlie who sent a looping header across the goal and beyond Michael White to provide the home side with an early lead. 

 

Queens keeper White was not fazed by the loss of the early goal and was sharply off his line on eight minutes to take a through ball just ahead of Darryl Duffy who came close to reaching it.

 

Fry was working hard although his effort in ten minutes from the edge of the box was comfortably taken low by White.

 

Queens had their first sight of the Airdrie goal a minute later when Adam Cummins was quickest to react to the loose ball following a cross into the box and the central defender fired a low 15 yard shot low which Rohan Ferguson collected the ball at his right post.    

 

Dean Cairns conceded a corner after heading David Galt’s 17th minute shot over the bar and from Galt’s corner Luke Donnelly’s header was on target but taken cleanly by Ferguson.

 

As play swung from end to end both sides had fruitless free kicks just outside the opposition box, before Airdrie got their second goal.

 

Dale Carrick worked hard to keep the ball in play then went past his marker on the goal line before being pulled back by Daniel Nimmo and a penalty was awarded. Darryl Duffy made no mistake as he sent the visitor’s keeper White the wrong way for his first Airdrie goal.

 

Striker Aidan Keena attempted a long range speculative effort that went over the top of Ferguson’s goal in 36 minutes.

 

As the half-time whistle approached, Carrick’s persistence in chasing a long ball forward earned a corner. From the pressure that followed Carrick got on the end of Scott Stewart’s cross, controlled the ball then volleyed it over the bar.  

 

The visitors came out looking to try to get back in the match and only Chris O’Neil’s awareness in 57 minutes prevented a goal, the full-back blocking a shot from Keena who got on the end of a back post cross.

 

Airdrie had a great chance to seal the points in 67 minutes. A clever ball from Ross Brown played Stewart into the box and after advancing into the box he fired an angled shot that beat White but slid narrowly beyond the far post. 

 

Chances fell at both ends with Galt and substitute Jamie Gullan having attempts that lacked power with Ferguson easily gathering the shots, while Duffy had forced White into a decent stop after he turned around a powerful shot.

 

As bookings and free kicks littered the bulk of the second half there was a real stop-start feel to the match. 

 

With the clock ticking down, it seemed as though Airdrie only had to manage the game through to the final whistle. 

 

On 82 minutes defender Gregor Fotheringham fired a long range shot that dipped late and was just over Ferguson’s goal.

 

Airdrie responded when a Duffy volley was grabbed by White in the Queens goal two minutes later.    

 

Four minutes from time, a misplaced pass led to the visitors breaking forward. The ball was slid through the middle and Adam Cummins raced on to send it past Ferguson and give Queens some belief. 

 

With two minutes to play Cummins went close again, but this time Ferguson’s reaction was timely to make a great save low down and that was enough to ensure that Airdrie would take all three points.

 

The win lifts Airdrieonians up to sixth place in the table, as they move closer to guaranteeing their current status in League One.

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Referee: Mr Craig Napier

Attendance: 908