Airdrie failed to make up ground on the play-off positions as Forfar Athletic ran out deserved winners at a gusty Station Park.

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The hosts included January signings Adam Eckersley and Gary Irvine, while the Diamonds had two changes with Scott Robertson and Josh Campbell returning to the starting line-up. Darryl Duffy dropped to the bench, while a hamstring injury ruled out Kieran MacDonald completely.

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Much of the early play was decidedly scrappy, with both teams coming to terms with a cold Angus wind which saw the match at nearby Arbroath abandoned after less than quarter of an hour.

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Ryan Conroy's 14th-minute free kick saw a ruck of players attack the ball, but it bounced harmlessly through to Loons goalkeeper Marc McCallum.

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Any success in working the ball forward came through short passing moves, and Scott Stewart and Kieran Millar combined well to advance into the box on 18 minutes, but a final misjudged pass saw the ball drift behind for a goal kick.

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Dale Hilson had Forfar's first chance on 20 minutes, trying his luck from distance with the wind at his back, but David Hutton watched the effort sail wide.

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The home side came close to taking the lead after 39 minutes, Dylan Easton's looping strike rebounding off the base of the post.

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Three minutes later, Jim Weir's side did make the breakthrough. New signing Irvine stepped onto a pass from defence and from fully 30 yards lifted an inch-perfect dipping effort over Hutton.

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The goal lit up an otherwise poor first half, and saw the hosts take their lead into the break.

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Airdrie's best chance of the match came four minutes after the restart, a well-struck Conroy free-kick tipped over the bar by McCallum.

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Grant Gallagher tried his luck from distance on 52 minutes, but McCallum was well placed to gather the ball.

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With the wind now at the Diamonds' backs, Conroy had another free-kick saved on the hour mark before John Baird contrived to blaze over an open goal six minutes later.

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Airdrie had a penalty shout on 72 minutes when substitute Darryl Duffy's knock-on struck a defender's hand, but referee Graham Beaton was unimpressed.

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A minute later Forfar had doubled their lead on the counter-attack. Easton drove forward from the half-way line, slipping the ball to Eckersley. The former St Mirren man fired across goal, his strike clipping the inside of the far post and nestling in the net.

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Substitute Dale Carrick almost had an instant impact as he beat his marker to Stewart's head-flick, but the ball bounced in front of McCallum and skewed wide of the target.

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A strong overlapping run took Stewart into the box with ten minutes remaining but the midfielder shot just over.

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The final opportunity of the match fell to former Airdrie striker Baird, who shanked a good chance with two minutes to play.

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It was a solid performance from Jim Weir's side, who have now stretched their lead over the disappointing Diamonds to nine points, leapfrogging East Fife into third place.

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Airdrie will have to pick themselves up against another Angus side, Brechin City, who visit the Penny Cars Stadium next weekend.