Airdrie will return to League 1 after three seasons in the Championship following Alloa’s two-legged victory in the play-off semi-final.

The Diamonds were hoping to make home advantage count as they looked to overcome Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at the Indodrill, but the Wasps eased past an Airdrie side decimated by injury.

With Adam Devine, Dylan MacDonald, Alex King, Dean McMaster, Jake Hastie and Aaron Reid already ruled out, Aidan Wilson, Rhys Armstrong, Charlie Telfer, and Euan Henderson also dropped out of the midweek travelling squad. Lewis Strapp missed out through suspension.

Sean McGinty, Gavin Gallagher, Robbie Mahon, Craig Ross and Scott Constable were the players who came in, with a depleted bench largely filled by U19 players.

Dom Thomas had the first effort on goal, a fourth-minute strike from outside the box which Liam McFarlane got behind.

Referee Ross Hardie failed to endear himself to the home crowd with a couple of odd calls as Alloa began to move the ball well, a ninth-minute move ending with an overhit cross before Constable had to be alert to cut out a dangerous cross-field pass five minutes later.

Captain McGinty was back to slide in on 21 minutes as the visitors again showed the counterattacking ability which had brought them success on Tuesday evening.

Harry Stone denied Cameron O’Donnell at his near post on 25 minutes, but Airdrie should have been in front as they broke upfield. Mahon glided down the right flank before picking out Gallagher with an inch-perfect cutback, but the midfielder got under the ball and scooped over the bar as the home support waited for the net to bulge.

As Jamie Barjonas lined up a 28th-minute shot, play was stopped to allow treatment to two prone Alloa players, and another gilt-edged opportunity was passed up when Chris Mochrie was put through one-on-one with McFarlane two minutes later, only for the Hearts loanee to spread himself and block the shot.

Airdrie’s injury troubles worsened on 31 minutes as Cole McKinnon hobbled off to be replaced by Lewis McGrattan, and Callum Burnside drew a good save from Stone as the Diamonds reorganised.

Lewis Stewart spun away from makeshift left-back Charlie McArthur three minutes later, but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Alloa’s pressure was rewarded as Owen Foster powered home a composed finish on 41 minutes, leaving Airdrie 2-0 down on aggregate.

McFarlane kept out a stinging Constable strike on the brink of half-time, and Andy Graham’s side took their lead into the break.

Airdrie’s profligacy continued after the break as a 48th-minute Barjonas strike flew wide via a deflection from a team-mate, and the midfielder then sent a dangerous free-kick over the bar.

The Diamonds did find a way back into the match on 55 minutes, Constable’s forward pass knocked on by McGrattan, and Mahon’s well-timed run paid off as the wide man stroked left-footed beyond McFarlane.

Stone held a good Burnside effort as the visitors looked to get back in front within a minute, and McArthur headed a corner-kick delivery over the top on the hour-mark after Barjonas had seen another deflection take his strike wide.

McGrattan just failed to get the ball out from under his feet in time to apply the requisite power to his 63rd-minute shot, with Constable missing the target a minute later as the Diamonds continued to push to level the aggregate score.

Alloa showed that they were still a threat on the break as Adamson forced another save from Stone on 74 minutes, before his fellow Rangers loanee Burnside tested the Airdrie keeper again three minutes later.

A heroic flying block took an 84th-minute Thomas effort wide of goal, but it was disaster for Airdrie three minutes later, Constable’s cutback intercepted by Charlie Dewar, who carried the ball upfield and fed substitute Conor Sammon. The veteran striker picked out the run of Adamson, who cut inside McGinty and shot for goal, a touch off the Airdrie defender wrongfooting Stone as the ball rolled over the line.

It was the final action of the match, and enough to send Alloa into next week’s final while Airdrie contemplate a return to the third-tier.