Ryan Conroy and Jake Hastie were the goalscorers as Airdrie produced the attacking flair to see off Alloa Athletic.

 

It is little short of four months since the two sides missed out in last season's play-offs. It took penalties to separate the sides but neither was able to grab that promotion place.

 

Former Stenhousemuir player Willis Furtado joined Conrad Balatoni as trialists for the visit of the Wasps.

 

With 10 minutes on the clock a through ball from Ryan Tierney for Jake Hastie was just too strong and was comfortably taken by former Diamond Neil Parry in the Alloa goal.

 

Five minutes later the same partnership linked once again and it led to the opening goal.

 

Tierney’s pass down the left sent Hastie into the penalty box and after he appeared to be caught by Daryll Meggatt’s challenge he went to ground and referee Stephen Finnie immediately pointed to the spot.

 

Ryan Conroy drilled the ball low to Parry’s right although the big keeper went the right way.

 

Furtado was showing some nice touches and a through ball in 18 minutes picked out Tierney but the striker was well challenged before he was able to make headway.

 

Three minutes later Kevin Cawley sent an excellent driven shot from outside the box that struck Rohan Ferguson’s post while full back Scott Taggart raced in to hammer the rebound wide of the goal that had opened up for him.

 

A spell of pressure from the home side followed and in 26 minutes Furtado’s effort from outside the penalty area saw Parry get down smartly to his left and turn the ball away for a corner.

 

At the other end Rohan Ferguson was comfortable when called upon in 28 minutes gathering Taggart’s effort easily.

 

In 31 minutes Luke Watt's interception and forward run took him to the edge of the box and his shot for goal was blocked with the ball spinning to Tierney, who attempted a curling shot that was wide of Parry’s left post.

 

It was that Conroy penalty which separated the sides at the interval.

 

Five minutes after the restart the visitors threatened as Iain Flannigan’s 25-yard free kick saw Ferguson push the ball over the bar.

 

Conroy had a similar effort three minutes later at the other end but his free kick saw Parry push the ball out and Tierney raced in on the rebound before finding the angle too narrow and sending his shot off target.

 

Watt fired a shot wide of the goal a minute later after a decent run with the home side looking to make their pressure tell.

 

Alloa boss Jim Goodwin rang the changes but the Diamonds were growing in confidence as shown by Furtado’s back heel to send full back Scott Stewart down the line and win a corner in the 57th minute.

 

Airdrie's passing moves were pleasing to watch, especially in the 69th minute when Tierney and Tom Fry linked up before picking a pass for Furtado who sent a shot wide of goal.

 

A minute later Hastie sent Stewart into the box and his shot was wide at the back post.

 

Around quarter of an hour remained when Hastie and Stewart once again combined creating for Tierney at the front post but the striker’s effort came off the post.

 

The worry was whether Airdrie might pay for their profligacy in front of goal but any concerns disappeared with two minutes remaining after a long ball from inside the Airdrie half was met by substitute Sean McIntosh, allowing Hastie to race all the way into the penalty box before sending the ball under Parry for a well-deserved second goal to ensure all three points.

 

A confident attacking performance from the young Diamonds, but it was equally pleasing to record the first clean sheet of the season.

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Referee: Mr Stephen Finnie

Attendance: 771