Airdrie ensured their final home fixture was successful as they defeated champions Arbroath for the first time in their four league meetings. 

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A double for Leighton McIntosh and a late goal from namesake Sean saw the home side take all three points from the match.

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Dean Cairns and Jonathan Page came in for their first starts of 2019.

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Former Diamond Ryan Wallace was looking like the most potent threat for the visitors in the first half, providing the first attempt on goal on seven minutes with the Diamonds defence blocking his 20-yard shot.

 

Cairns' control let him down after 11 minutes, when turning on the edge of the penalty box only to send his effort wide of goal.

 

Midway through the half the match was in danger of getting bogged down in the middle of the park.

 

Wallace continued to look lively for Arbroath having a couple of attempts from outside the box blocked on 27 and 32 minutes, while in between when he did get a shot away he blasted the ball high over David Hutton’s goal.

 

Dean Hawkshaw, who was giving the Arbroath players much to think about, turned provider in 39 minutes to help Airdrie take the lead. A ball into the box saw the midfielder race in and show good control as he went past keeper Darren Hill before looking up and squaring the ball for Leighton McIntosh to fire into the net from ten yards.

 

A minute later Airdrie could have scored again after McIntosh raced into the box, finding Declan Glass with his pass, but the Dundee United loanee went for power and blasted his shot well over Hill’s goal. 

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Five minutes after the restart Airdrie keeper Hutton dived to his right to push away a powerful Wallace volley. 

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After Hawkshaw worked some excellent space for himself on 68 minutes to run beyond the visiting back line, his progress was abruptly halted by Thomas O’Brien who he was duly red carded for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

 

Kieran MacDonald’s effort from the resultant free-kick saw him clip the ball over the wall but hit the crossbar and float over.

 

After 72 minutes, good play by Glass saw him set up a chance for McIntosh but his effort was wide of the target.

 

Airdrie went after that crucial second goal and it came with ten minutes remaining. Once again good lead-up play from Glass was followed by a perfect ball in from the left for McIntosh, and his netbound shot was deflected en route to the goal.

 

It was in time added on that the Diamonds scored their third goal when Scott Stewart made the most of the space he had created on the right before setting up Sean McIntosh who drilled the ball past Hill to put the final sheen on an impressive victory over the promoted Lichties.