Andy Ryan's second half stunner earned the Diamonds their first point of the season against Arbroath.

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Airdrieonians returned Sean McIntosh and Cammy Russell to the starting line up in place of John Higgins and Murray Loudon who were on the bench.

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Former Diamonds Bryan Prunty and Ryan McCord were among the substitutes for Arbroath.

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Arbroath were first to threaten in five minutes after a decent cross from the left by Bobby Linn saw Danny Denholm send the ball well wide of the target.

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Andy Ryan was in the visitor’s penalty area two minutes later but sent the loose ball well wide of David Hutton’s goal.

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It took a while before both sides threatened either goal. With 21 minutes on the clock Blair Yule's 20-yard effort was comfortably taken by Rohan Ferguson.

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Four minutes later full back David Gold had a similar attempt with the same result from Ferguson.

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Ryan was alert to chase a ball in behind Arbroath’s back line just ahead of Hutton, then turned from a position out wide right and sent the ball back in but was wide with the cross on 31 minutes.

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Arbroath took the lead in the 33rd minute after a high ball into the box was flicked on by Steven Doris and fell to Omar Kader, who controlled the ball then lashed it high into the net past the exposed Ferguson. Airdrie's cries for offside fell on deaf ears.

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As the match moved into first half stoppage time Sean McIntosh worked some space for himself on the right before delivering a terrific cross that Ryan raced in to head the ball for goal and a late reaction from Hutton allowed him to make the save when an equaliser looked certain.

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The home side started the second half on the front foot, however in 51 minutes a breakaway saw Doris set up Kader inside the box and Airdrie were indebted to Ferguson’s excellent reaction save.

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They raced up the field and from the left wing a ball knocked forward by Scott Stewart to Andy Ryan took him into the penalty box and then he curled the ball beyond David Hutton at the far post for a superb equaliser.

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As Arbroath chased a second goal to get back in front Ferguson was in inspired form, pulling a couple of reaction stops a minute after levelling then saving a fine shot from Bobby Linn almost on the hour mark.

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Even when the keeper let one slip from his grasp defender Kieran MacDonald was on hand to clear up the threat with 20 minutes remaining.

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Another goal looked on the cards inside a three-minute spell when former Diamond Ryan McCord struck a 25-yard free kick wide of the goal, Ryan had an excellent turn and drive blocked away for a corner then substitute McCord forced man of the match Ferguson into another good stop, but the sides remained level.

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Murray Loudon was unable make good contact with Robbie Leighton’s cross in 79 minutes but a minute later the crowd looked on in disbelief after Ryan looked to be clear into the box only to be barged to the ground by a late challenge from the opposition.

 

Adam Brown was on the end of a late ball into the box and chipped his effort wide to the right of Hutton’s goal.

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In the closing stages Dean Cairns made a wonderful challenge to poke the ball away as a goal threatened while Ferguson was not to be denied making at least three fine saves in the process as the visitors threatened in the closing stages, but in the end the home side were fully worthy of their hard fought point.

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Referee: Mr Scott Millar

Attendance: 740