Arbroath stormed to victory at Gayfield, smashing seven past a lacklustre Airdrie side.

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With David Brownlie missing out through injury, Sean McIntosh moved to the centre of defence with Luke Watt filling the right full-back berth. Jordan Allan partnered Willis Furtado upfront after some impressive displays from the bench.

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The home side showed early signs of their pace and power in attack as they charged forward on four minutes, but Blair Yule's header was well over the bar.

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Airdrie started to come into the match with Scott Stewart causing problems down the right flank, but the home defence were alert to turn Tom Fry's snap shot behind after Stewart's sixth-minute pass.

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Rohan Ferguson had to get down quickly to Ryan McCord's low effort four minutes later, and launched an attack which saw Stewart evade two tackles before having his heels clipped inside the penalty area. Referee Colin Steven showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Ryan Conroy calmly slotted home from 12 yards, sending Lichties keeper David Hutton the wrong way.

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It only took seven minutes for Arbroath to equalise, a cross from the left wing bouncing awkwardly in front of Ferguson who could only parry the ball into the path of Gavin Swankie. The former Forfar striker made no mistake in firing home.

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The Diamonds continued to use the ball well, and Fry shot straight at Hutton on 19 minutes before Furtado fought through the defence and forced a fine stop from the keeper two minutes later.

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On 26 minutes Arbroath got their own spot kick, Watt jostling with Swankie as a high ball dropped awkwardly in the wind. With the home fans calling for both a foul and a handball, referee Steven awarded the penalty which McCord tucked away.

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Airdrie pushed for an equaliser, and Stewart's persistence won a corner on 33 minutes, which he himself headed wide.

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The balance swung heavily in Arbroath's favour two minutes later with two quickfire goals.

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Danny Denholm got the third for Dick Campbell's side, flicking home a low front post cross. Bobby Linn added a fourth as Kieran MacDonald's passback under pressure came up short, allowing Linn to nip in and slam the ball past Ferguson.

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John Higgins replaced Watt at half-time, but Arbroath showed no sign of easing up as the second period got underway, Linn forcing a good save from Ferguson on 48 minutes.

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Conroy had a go from distance five minutes later, but with the strong wind taking the sting out of his effort, Hutton was able to gather easily.

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Just after the hour mark, Denholm notched his second, outrunning the Diamonds defence to slot home.

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Another defensive slip led to the home side's sixth, Jordan McGregor's misplaced header falling for substitute Kane Hester who lobbed Ferguson.

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Former Airdrie loanee Ryan McCord rubbed salt in the wound with a sublime finish on 89 minutes, curling the ball into the net from the bye-line.

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The goal rounded off a devastatingly disappointing scoreline for the Diamonds, who now have to pick themselves up before next week's Monklands derby.

 

Referee: Mr Colin Steven

Attendance: 740