Peterhead sub Andy Rodgers scored the only goal of the game as Airdrie were unlucky to leave Balmoor empty-handed.

Chris O’Neil returned at full back while Scott Stewart started in the final league meeting between the clubs this season.

The home side enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half, but were unable to make any early headway through a well structured midfield and defensive shape.

The game was being punctuated by lots of stoppages through fouls or injury.

Peterhead’s Marc Lawrence tried a speculative effort in 19 minutes from outside the box that saw the ball fly high and wide of Neil Parry’s goal.

A well worked move in 27 minutes saw Marc Fitzpatrick slide the ball wide to the right for O’Neil, who fed the ball down the wing to Stewart. He raced to the line and cut back a great ball for Nicky Cadden who fired a shot from inside the box straight at Graeme Smith to collect in the middle of his goal.

In an opening half of few opportunities from both sides, Jamie Redman flashed a rare shot from the edge of the box that Parry was down low to gather in 33 minutes.

The Diamonds had the last chance before the break when Kieran Macdonald raced down the left, then sent over a cross that Cadden headed wide of Smith’s goal.

Four minutes into the second half the home side were able to get in behind the visiting defence but were unable to get a shot in on goal. The ball broke to Steven Noble whose clipped shot struck the crossbar before being cleared.

Top scorer Rory McAllister was having a quiet match but in 56 minutes let fly with a 25-yard shot that went wide to the right of Parry’s goal.

He went close again three minutes later but missed the target.

With 69 minutes played Airdrie should have opened the scoring. Jordan Thomson’s flighted free kick saw the ball being deftly flicked into the penalty box by Stewart. Alan Lithgow raced into the box, gathered the ball then sent his shot straight at Smith who did well to save.

A minute later Jordon Brown’s long range effort was comfortably taken by Parry.

The home side looked to be out of ideas when Brown and Andy Rodgers linked up as they played the ball through the heart of the Airdrie back line before Rodgers poked an angled shot past Parry into the net for the opener in 76 minutes.

Cadden sent in well struck 25-yard shot that Smith dived to his right to save initially then gather the loose ball with nine minutes remaining.

Airdrie pushed for the equaliser but it was not to be.

Results elsewhere meant the Diamonds stay fifth and will be hoping for another opportunity to meet up with Peterhead in the play-offs.

John O'Brien at Balmoor Stadium.

Photographs © David Hendrie. Click to view full-size.