Alan Lithgow's last-gasp header rescued a vital point for Airdrie against Stenhousemuir.

Three times this season Stenny have netted a late goal to win the fixture, but this time around it was the Diamonds who had a late goal to savour.

Airdrie made five changes from last week’s starting line up at Stranraer, O'Neil, Faria, Lister, Prunty and Cox making way for Bain, Brown, Stewart, Mackin and Cadden.

The first opportunity was to fall in 14 minutes to Nicky Cadden wide on the left, but the midfielder blasted the ball well off target.

With 20 minutes gone a fine pass by Lewis Small to Angus Beith was followed up by a snap shot that went wide to the left of Neil Parry’s goal.

Two minutes later Cadden’s excellent cross saw a corner conceded, and the winger’s delivery picked out Sean Crighton who headed the ball into Stenhousemuir keeper Colin McCabe’s hands.

Parry made an excellent save in 28 minutes from Beith’s 30-yard drive, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

The keeper then saved well two minutes later from Small, who had got in behind the back line.

Alan Lithgow did well in 33 minutes to usher the ball away from the goal after Colin McMenamin’s overhead kick was on target.

Stephen Stirling went close four minutes later, firing over the crossbar.

In the closing three minutes of the first half Crighton had another header for goal, this time slightly off target, while Cadden cut inside from the left and sent a low shot that McCabe gathered cleanly.

The goals came after the break. Mark Gilhaney curled a 20 yard shot just wide of Parry’s right post on 53 minutes.

An Adam Brown corner saw Lithgow’s back post header saved by McCabe six minutes later.

On the hour up stepped Warriors substitute - former Diamond Alan Cook - to score a spectacular goal. He won the ball in the middle of the park then sent a powerful 35-yard effortinto the net.

Airdrie almost levelled within a minute after a decent Jamie Bain run and cross was met by Cadden, but his shot was well taken by McCabe.

Crighton had a headed attempt on goal saved three minutes later, while Parry gathered a 20-yard shot from Stephen Stirling in 73 minutes.

Substitutes Jim Lister and Bryan Prunty combined in 77 minutes, but the latter’s shot was straight at McCabe.

Prunty had another saved from inside the box five minutes later, after being put in by Jordan Thompson.

With five minutes remaining Lithgow’s header was nodded on by Crighton, but Lister's header was wide of goal.

A Bain run to the edge of the box drew a foul and Thompson’s resultant free kick was deflected for a corner.

From the perfectly flighted delivery by David Cox, Lithgow rose highest to head the ball powerfully into the net for the equaliser and a share of the points.

John O'Brien at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full-size.