Ex-Airdrie midfielder Liam Watt sparked a quick turnaround which saw East Fife claim all three points after the Diamonds had gone in front.

 

Having failed to beat East fife in four meetings last season, Airdrie left with nothing again, despite being gifted a goal to grab the lead with 16 minutes remaining.

 

Kieran MacDonald, Jonathan Page, Kieran Millar, Ben McKenzie and Kyle Wilkie returned to face one of their old clubs while former Diamonds Watt and Ross Davidson started for the home side. 

​

Scott Agnew was first to threaten in six minutes when he fired a rising 25-yard volley over the top of David Hutton’s goal.

 

On 15 minutes Joao Victoria sent MacDonald down the left and he delivered a cross into the box which sailed over keeper Brett Long then struck the inside of the post before the ball was cleared away.

 

Scott Robertson’s through ball for Leighton McIntosh a minute later ran away from the striker, with Long out smartly to smother the ball.

 

Agnew again threatened for the home side on 19 minutes when a neat spin and a 20-yard shot brought out a decent save from Hutton to keep the scoreline blank.

 

Airdrie managed to get Millar through and into the box 12 minutes from the break providing some respite, but Long pulled off a decent stop.  

 

Watt went close for the Fifers on 56 minutes after racing in behind the Airdrie defence to forced Hutton into another critical save.

 

Millar’s positive run on 59 minutes set up McIntosh, who fired the ball at Long from close range.

 

With 25 minutes left substitute Rory Currie beat Hutton to a long ball upfield, but thankfully for Airdrie he slid his shot wide of goal from the left hand side.

 

Good play from Victoria two minutes later saw him cut inside from the left but his on-target effort was headed away.

 

Hutton made another fine save from Watt from distance as the home side pressed for an opener shortly before Airdrie took the lead.

 

A decent run by Gallagher in 74 minutes saw the midfielder fire in a 25-yard effort which was deflected wide of Long’s goal. The keeper made a scrambled attempt to prevent a corner, and Cammy Russell was alert to stroke home the loose ball to open the scoring.

 

Airdrie were slow to react to this fortunate advantage and the home side raced up the park with Watt curling the ball into the net from a tight angle less than a minute later.

 

Another sucker punch followed two minutes from time when the hosts were allowed to cross from the right, with substitute Currie turning the ball past Hutton at the far post.  

The defeat saw the Fifers maintain their good recent record over the Diamonds and left the visiting fans disappointed with the display.