Airdrie will battle Cove Rangers for a place in next season’s Championship after the Diamonds saw off Stenhousemuir with a 2-1 home win.

There was one change to the Airdrie side which won 3-1 at Ochilview on Tuesday, Sam Graham replacing the injured Mason Hancock as he had in midweek. Warriors boss made two changes, Matty Yates and Corey O’Donnell starting in place of Blair Alston and Bobby McLuckie, who dropped to the bench.

It was Airdrie who threatened first on a warm, sunny day at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, captain Adam Frizzell sending a seventh-minute effort just wide of the post.

The visitors hit back through their skipper, ex-Diamond Gregor Buchanan, but the big defender could only scoop over as a free-kick broke his way.

Darren Jamieson continued his fine form from Tuesday, spreading himself well to deny Ben Wilson after the striker had beaten the offside trap on ten minutes.

The Diamonds’ next two chances fell to Chris Mochrie, who saw an 11th-minute strike well blocked after good work from Dylan MacDonald, firing over a minute later as Wilson knocked the ball into his path much as he had in the first leg.

O’Donnell found no way past Alex Bannon and Sam Graham on 15 minutes, with Frizzell curling a free-kick narrowly wide four minutes later.

Dean McMaster saw a shot blocked as the home side began to ramp up the pressure, and Wilson should have scored midway through the half, but was unable to turn Mochrie’s low cross goalward.

A similar chance saw Liam McStravick firing an inviting ball across the six-yard line just after the half-hour mark, but again no-one in a Diamond shirt was able to take advantage.

Jamieson saved well again, this time from MacDonald, and Tuesday’s hero Lewis McGrattan saw an effort from the corner of the box go over the top.

As half-time approached, the Diamonds won a corner after an intricate passing move, and Frizzell found Bannon at the back post, the defender guiding his header across goal and into the net to open the scoring.

Stenhousemuir almost found a quick equaliser when a nice touch from Kelsey Ewen put him through on Cade Melrose, but the defender sent the ball over the bar.

Jamieson denied Lewis Strapp with another fine diving save in stoppage time, and Airdrie had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.

The margin was double seven minutes after the restart, however, and it was Ben Wilson who raced onto a searching Strapp pass, beating Kyle Banner for pace and turning back inside the defender to shoot. Banner’s flailing boot got a touch on the strike, taking a far post effort inside the near post and leaving Jamieson helpless.

A quadruple-change for the hosts resulted in a decent spell for the Warriors as Airdrie reorganised, and Matty Yates got a goal back on 58 minutes, spinning onto a loose ball and wrongfooting Melrose to make it 2-1.

Euan O’Reilly and Matty Aitken went close as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Diamonds sub Ricco Diack almost caught Jamieson out with a lovely effort on 63 minutes.

Nat Wedderburn fired over from distance on 64 minutes, and a minute later Yates also tried his luck – this time from inside the centre circle – but watched as his audacious effort bounced wide.

A spell of keep-ball followed for the Diamonds, who were happy to slow the game down in the warm sunshine.

A 77th-minute MacDonald effort was headed clear by Buchanan after some nice play in the box from substitute Gavin Gallagher, and Graham was on hand to clear at the other end after Melrose had been well closed down.

With Airdrie’s progress secured, the match fizzled out and the Diamonds can now rest and prepare for a two-legged final against Paul Hartley’s Cove Rangers.