Airdrie endured a miserable afternoon in more ways that one as the Diamonds suffered a reversal of the scoreline from their last visit to Ross County.

Both sides have slipped into League 1 since the 4-0 Airdrie win in April, but it is the Staggies who are making the early running for an immediate Championship return as they made it 11 unbeaten after a rain-lashed encounter at the Global Energy Stadium.

Lewis Strapp, who opened the scoring for the Diamonds that day, lined up for the league leaders alongside another ex-Airdrie man, Ross Docherty.

Cade Melrose and Sam Fisher started for John Rankin’s side, replacing the injured Ruairidh Adams and Declan Gallagher respectively.

Both sides enjoyed spells of pressure in the opening stages, though neither goalkeeper was troubled as the match played out in increasingly unfavourable weather.

Dylan MacDonald blocked Richard Chin’s cross inside the first minute before Airdrie wingers Lewis Gibson and Callum Burnside put pressure on the home defence who were eventually able to clear.

The wide men combined again on seven minutes after Josh Gentles had won a promising free-kick, but Burnside’s shot spun away from goal.

Luke McCarvel’s explosive pace took him away from Reghan Tumilty on 13 minutes, but the Airdrie man recovered well to get a tackle in, with Strapp seeing his effort blocked three minutes later.

Brian Graham was denied by Fisher and half-hearted penalty claims were ignored as Craig Ross challenged Kieran Phillips inside the 21st minute.

Burnside’s shot earned a 23rd-minute corner, but it was County who capitalised as Akil Wright prevented a wayward effort from going out of play and launched a counterattack which ended with veteran striker Graham turning home a low Strapp cross.

Airdrie had barely recovered from going behind when they found themselves two down, Graham heading home his second of the match after the ball had been returned following a good Melrose parry.

Gentles almost kept the scoring going on 29 minutes, powering a left-footed effort just wide of the top corner.

Airdrie continued to look for a way back into the match, but Burnside was denied by a good defensive block after Ewan Simpson had carved out a chance, and Gibson’s 34th-minute free-kick was well defended.

Chin almost added a third on 39 minutes but a fine sliding tackle by Fisher dispossessed the former Raith winger.

The Malaysian international did get his name on the scoresheet in first-half stoppage time, Ross blocking another dangerous McCarvel cross only as far as Chin, who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Airdrie made two half-time changes as Adam Devine and Dapo Mebude replace Tumilty and Burnside, but it was the hosts who raced out of the traps in search of a fourth, Fisher turning Connor Randall’s 48th-minute strike over his own bar before Graham sent a glancing header just wide of the far post.

County were in no mood to concede chances at the other end, Wright getting back to clear after Brad Foster had fumbled a Gibson cross at the feet of Gentles on 50 minutes.

Wright fired over after Melrose had saved Chris Hamilton’s volley, and Airdrie were forced into another change as MacDonald limped off to be replaced by Kwame Boateng.

The Diamonds’ misery was compounded in the 54th minute as Graham grabbed his hat-trick, stealing the goal from team-mate Wright as he nipped in to add a final touch to the defender’s netbound header.

A Devine cross just after the hour was too far ahead of the incoming Mebude, with Melrose touching a cross by Staggies substitute Adam Emslie over his bar.

McCarvel went close on 69 minutes before drawing a vital block from Boateng ten minutes later, with Melrose pouncing on the resultant corner delivery.

Jack Turner fired over before Emslie sent another effort wide in the closing stages, and the final whistle called time on a result which matched the dismal conditions.

After coming up short against the top two, the Diamonds will look to get back to winning ways next weekend as they welcome bottom side Cove Rangers to the Albert Bartlett.