The first Monklands derby of 2018 ended in stalemate as two former Diamonds cancelled out strikes by Willis Furtado and Dean Cairns.

 

Airdrie extended their unbeaten run to five matches, two goals in five minutes putting Stevie Findlay’s side in front after falling behind, only to concede a stoppage time equaliser.

 

The match beat the weather conditions but the first half saw an absence of any really skilful moments from either side in a bid to break the deadlock.

 

Early on as both sides battled with the soaking wet surface, David Brownlie had a tame header taken by keeper Daniel Potts from Furtado’s free kick while former Diamond Alan Trouten’s through ball for Connor Shields was just too strong for the striker to control.

 

Airdrie keeper Rohan Ferguson needed to redeem himself for delaying a clearance that was blocked by Joao Vitoria. He did exactly that by saving efforts from the Portuguese striker, who had retained the ball and cut back inside before seeing his shot saved, then a second stop from Michael McMullin.

   

With 23 minutes gone, a good run down the left by Jake Hastie saw his cross hit the bar and go over the top.

 

Seven minutes from the interval Hastie controlled Scott Stewart’s cross from the right, but his shot was well blocked by the Rovers rearguard.

 

A goalless scoreline was an accurate reflection of the first 45 minutes.   

 

After the restart the Diamonds became more of an attacking force with Stewart and Furtado combining well down the right to put pressure on Rovers’ defence.

 

The opening goal came following Airdrie’s best spell of possession in the match.

 

A Rovers break down the right was followed by an angled shot from the inside the penalty area by Vitoria. Ferguson reacted well and made the save but only succeeded in sending the ball across the face of goal, allowing Trouten the simplest of tasks to send the ball into the net with 57 minutes on the clock.

 

Tom Fry came on for Cammy Russell immediately with Airdrie eager to get back on terms. 

 

Stewart fired in a 59th-minute shot which was wide of the target.

 

Tom Fry looked set to level three minutes later after a run into the box but his shot was blocked by Alan Reid.

 

With 68 minutes gone Brownlie got on the end of Luke Watt’s free kick but home keeper Potts gathered the ball.

 

A goal looked on the cards and it came in the 70th minute. Fry’s ball on for Furtado saw the striker race clear of the home defence. His shot was saved by Potts’ feet but Furtado followed up, sending the rebound into the net.

 

Having equalised, Airdrie pushed on for a second goal with Rovers’ backline clearing the ball upfield.

 

Furtado took on Reid wide on the left with the Rovers defender simply pulling him to the ground. Watt's whipped in free kick was powered into the back of the net by Dean Cairns who raced off the field to celebrate with the travelling support behind the goal.

 

In 78 minutes Furtado’s lovely backheel set up a shooting opportunity for Stewart who fired wide.

 

With four minutes remaining Ferguson made a decent save from substitute Michael Hopkins, sending his effort from inside the box off the crossbar and over. 

 

In the second minute of stoppage time, having thrown everyone into the box, a corner from Gary Fisher fell to Scott McLaughlin and the ex-Airdrie man sent the ball into the net from ten yards out to earn a point.  

 

The point was enough to climb to sixth above East Fife, who visit Airdrie on Saturday.               

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Referee: Mr John McKendrick

Attendance: 1,032