Destiny Oladipo scored the only goal of the game as Airdrie slumped to defeat against bottom side Cove Rangers on a disappointing afternoon at the Albert Bartlett.

With Craig Ross suspended and Dylan MacDonald added to the Diamonds injury list, Adam Devine, Declan Gallagher and Dapo Mebude came into the starting XI while Gavin Gallagher dropped to the bench alongside emergency loan signing Kieran Wright.

The match started in flat fashion, Cade Melrose smothering an off-target Joseph Teasdale effort before Lewis Gibson saw his cutback cleared in the centre of the Cove box.

The first real opportunity came on 15 minutes, Dylan Ross getting plenty behind an angled strike which forced Melrose into a good save.

Ackeme Francis-Burrell was next to have a go for the visitors, but his effort cleared the bar, and did Mebude as the half-hour mark approached.

The Diamonds were forced into a change as a shoulder knock saw Ewan Simpson withdrawn for Gavin Gallagher, and as the home side reorganised Cove almost took advantage of a free-kick on the edge of the box, Ross curling a lovely strike against the inside of the post.

Airdrie responded through Callum Burnside, who took advantage of a smart pass from fellow loanee Josh Gentles to bear in on goal, but Robbie Mutch covered his angles well and blocked the winger’s shot behind.

Gentles was unselfish again two minutes later as he played in Connor Smith, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Cole McKinnon and Ross, but the midfielder blasted over.

When Gentles did get a sight of goal himself, it was the side netting which bulged as the striker sent his shot the wrong side of the post after a one-two with Burnside.

Burnside was screaming for a penalty on 38 minutes, going down after nipping in to win possession, but referee Ross Birrell decided there wasn’t enough contact to merit a spot-kick award.

While Airdrie raged about the decision, Cove broke up the park to force another decent stop from Melrose, and the sides remained locked in stalemate at half-time.

A trio of chances fell to the Diamonds early in the second half, Gentles having a shot blocked before Burnside volleyed over and Gibson sent a strike well over the top.

The sucker punch came on 56 minutes, a lovely one-touch passing moving presenting Reghan Tumilty with a chance which Mutch held onto before launching a counter-attack down the left. After cutting inside Devine, Teasdale squared for Oladipo, who poked the ball past Melrose to open the scoring.

Airdrie hit back through Devine, who saw a good 59th-minute cross turned behind, with Burnside volleying over the bar again two minutes later.

Tumilty couldn’t get enough on Burnside’s 65th-minute cross to beat Mutch, and Melrose was called into action again four minutes later, doing well to save a vicious strike from Cove substitute Edimond Oppong.

The Diamonds had also introduced fresh legs, and Robbie Mahon left the full-back in his wake on 72 minutes only to see his shot deflected back to Mutch.

Oppong went close again with another powerful strike from outside the box before fellow substitute Mikey Milnes almost netted with his first touch only to be denied by a deflection.

Teasdale missed a sitter as a lucky bounce landed kindly for him with five minutes remaining, Airdrie sub Matty Yates just missing the target at the other end as the Diamonds countered.

Two excellent saves from Mutch kept his side ahead in the closing stages, first diving full-length to push away a Burnside shot then producing an unbelievable stop to keep out Gentles’ flicked header on 88 minutes.

Mahon took a stoppage-time chance early, but sent the ball over the top and the Diamonds were out of time as they slipped to a third successive defeat.

Tuesday’s KDM Evolution Trophy tie presents an early chance to get back to winning ways as Airdrie welcome Elgin City to the Albert Bartlett Stadium for their round of 32 fixture.