A scrappy Craig Moore goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to give Ayr United their third win over Airdrie this season.

Jordan Thomson made his Diamonds debut following his arrival on loan from Rangers, but was Ayr United who maintained a 100% record over their hosts with their third win over the Diamonds in league meetings this season.

Alan Lithgow’s fifth minute throw in was flicked on by Jim Lister, but unfortunately Jamie Bain arrived too late at the back post and made poor contact as he sent the ball wide.

Two minutes later Kieran MacDonald’s pass picked out Bain who fired a 20 yard swerving shot that Ayr keeper Greg Fleming could only push away with his defenders clearing the danger.

Nicky Cadden cut inside on the right on 13 minutes but blasted the ball well over the goal.

Ayr went close to opening the scoring in 17 after Ross Gilmour’s 25 yard volley was well struck, but Neil Parry was down low to claim the ball.

A superb run by Nicky Devlin in 20 minutes as he raced past Bain on the right then into the box was not matched by a cross that he fired across goal.

Good control and play from Alan Forrest in 26 minutes was followed by a teasing cross and Parry juggled the ball into the air before gathering it cleanly.

Bain's free kick into the box in 21 minutes was turned away for a corner that came to nothing.

Ayr took the lead in first half time stoppage time. The visitors kept the ball well around the edge of the box and good play from Alan Forrest picked out Paddy Boyle in the box. The former Diamond's cross in front of goal hit striker Craig Moore and wrongfooted Parry to open the scoring.

After the break the visitors dominated. In 53 minutes Brian Gilmour’s cross was met by Moore, whose header was taken by Parry.

Alan Lithgow did well to head a netbound shot from Forrest over the crossbar in 56 minutes.

Moore then set up Gilmour for a shot in 69 minutes but he fired his effort just over the target.

Forrest and Alan Trouten combined as the substitute drilled another shot on target that was taken by Parry in 79 minutes, while Forrest fired wide of Parry’s right post in 83 minutes.

The closest Airdrie came to levelling the match was in 88 minutes when Nicky Cadden create some space for himself on the right then delivered a great cross into the box. Jim Lister’s header for goal was well saved by Greg Fleming who clawed the ball away and made sure his side took all three points.

Another disappointment at home, although with results elsewhere the league positions remained relatively unchanged with the final quarter of the season about to begin.

John O'Brien at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full-size