Airdrie’s full-backs got forward to give the Diamonds a 2-1 lead following the first leg of a tense play-off against Cove Rangers.

Rhys McCabe named an unchanged line-up to take the field in the Aberdeen sunshine, with defender Aidan Wilson returning to the substitutes bench following a groin injury.

Former Diamonds loanee Declan Glass started for Cove, who also had familiar names like Mitch Megginson, Fraser Fyvie and Blair Yule in their starting XI.

A cagey start to the match saw the sides feel each other out in the early stages, Cade Melrose taking a high ball under pressure after Alex Bannon had got his head to a fourth-minute Fyve cross.

Adam Frizzell had the first Airdrie chance on 14 minutes, but after doing well to retain possession in the Cove box, his shot was blocked by the shins of a defender.

A minute later the Diamonds captain turned provider, swinging in a corner kick which Dylan MacDonald leapt to meet, steering his unchallenged header beyond Nick Suman to open the scoring.

As Paul Hartley’s side looked to retaliate, some composed defending from Bannon averted the danger and launched an attack which saw Ben Wilson juggle the ball past Suman only to see his near-post effort well blocked for a corner.

A tame Liam McStravick effort gave Suman an easy take on 19 minutes, the Airdrie midfielder squeezing his shot away after some neat footwork to fashion the opportunity.

A free-kick delivery almost caused the Diamonds problems midway through the half, but Melrose adjusted well to punch the ball clear.

Lewis McGrattan tried for a repeat of his second semi-final finish on 25 minutes, taking a shot on first-time as he raced in on goal, but Suman got behind the strike and held on.

Findlay Marshall did well to spin onto a square pass on the edge of the Airdrie box four minutes later, but sent his shot over the top.

Cove Rangers found an equaliser with 34 minutes played, a corner kick skewing off the head of the unfortunate McGrattan and leaving Melrose with no chance.

Airdrie hit back through Chris Mochrie, who saw his effort blocked by a superb Michael Doyle intervention on 36 minutes, and it took good defensive reactions from McStravick to halt a Cove break three minutes later.

Frizzell saw a free-kick saved by Suman as half-time approached, with Glass firing wide at the other end before picking up a booking for an over-zealous challenge in the centre circle.

Melrose was on hand to keep the scores level in first-half stoppage time, first racing out to beat Megginson to a passback which held up on the sticky surface, then holding a 20-yard Glass effort.

The home side began the second half in the ascendancy, and it took some stout defending from the Diamonds to prevent the Toonsers turning the score around, Bannon’s volleyed clearance keeping out a 51st-minute header with Sam Graham also keeping the hosts at bay.

Suman was in action again as Airdrie began to implement the short sharp passing which saw them take control of the match. The Cove keeper saved a deflected McGrattan shot on 57 minutes before holding Mochrie’s effort at the second attempt a minute later.

Glass almost handed the home side the lead on 62 minutes, his cross swerving toward goal and bouncing off the top of the crossbar, but it was the Diamonds who were back in front a minute later.

Wilson’s initial heavy touch ceded possession, but Marshall returned the favour by playing the loose ball into the path of Lewis Strapp. The Airdrie man lifted the ball over the home defence, Wilson haring through to take possession and pick out Strapp’s continued run with an intelligent cutback. The former Morton defender made no mistake in slamming home his first Airdrie goal.

Melrose claimed well after a stumble had allowed a dangerous 68th-minute cross to be swung in, with Mochrie firing wide on the turn nine minutes later.

Substitute Ricco Diack sent a close-range header wide following a corner on 84 minutes, but Airdrie came closest to increasing their lead with two minutes remaining, a bustling run taking Frizzell through the middle to unleash a trademark outside-of-the-boot strike which cannoned off the upright.

A stoppage time Fyvie effort went high and wide, and Airdrie left with a single-goal advantage ahead of Saturday’s second leg.