Airdrie slumped to a heavy defeat in Ayr as the Honest Men continued their run of good results against the Diamonds.

There were three changes for the visitors as they looked to build on a good opening day win against Raith Rovers, Craig Watson, Murray Aiken and Chris Mochrie replacing player-manager Rhys McCabe, Adam Frizzell and Terrell Agyemang.

Former Airdrie midfielder Jake Hastie dropped to the bench for Scott Brown’s side, who were aiming to make it two wins out of two following last weekend’s win at Hamilton.

The Diamonds got off to the worst possible start with Jay Henderson giving the home side a seventh-minute lead as an intercepted clearance was returned for the Ross County loanee to fire beyond Murray Johnson from the edge of the box. Claims for a handball in the build-up fell on deaf ears and the goal stood.

As the hosts looked to capitalise on their early advantage it took a brave block from Johnson to keep the Honest Men at bay.

The big keeper was called upon again on 16 minutes, saving well from Anton Dowds after the striker had peeled away at a corner kick.

Marco Rus was next to threaten as Airdrie struggled to get a foothold in the match, clipping the post with a curling shot from the corner of the area.

The Diamonds broke down the left after 21 minutes, but Ayr keeper Harry Stone was out quickly to claim Mason Hancock’s cross ahead of incoming striker Ben Wilson.

Hancock cut inside a minute later, and his right-foot cross curled past the post just before Lewis McGrattan could get there.

Airdrie’s failure to find an equaliser was punished on the 24-minute mark as George Oakley doubled Ayr’s lead, poking home after Frankie Musonda had passed in from the right flank.

The Diamonds main threat was coming from the wings, and Dylan MacDonald saw a 30th-minute cross touched behind before Rhys Armstrong drifted in to attempt a lobbed effort which Stone gathered.

Ben Wilson went close after combining with Hancock again as half-time edged closer, with Johnson gathering a Henderson effort at the other end.

The Hibs youngster had to be alert with seven minutes of the half remaining as Dowds burst through, Johnson spreading himself well before fielding Jamie Murphy’s strike as play continued.

Rhys McCabe rang the changes at half-time, Agyemang, Frizzell and Cammy Bruce replacing Watson, McGrattan and Aiken.

The changes seemed to spur Airdrie on with a thrusting early attack resulting in a 46th-minute corner kick, but the sucker punch came two minutes later as Henderson got his second on the counter.

Frizzell saw a decent effort well blocked on 52 minutes, with a Hancock cross blocked by a hand two minutes later, but referee Calum Scott said no penalty.

Johnson punched a 55th-minute cross behind, and the keeper was unable to claim the corner leaving Dowds to blast home his second at the back post despite a despairing attempted block on the line.

Ayr pushed hard to increase their lead against the shell-shocked Diamonds, but Dowds and Rus were unable to hit the target just after the hour-mark.

Bruce saw an effort blocked by the head of a defender on 67 minutes, and Stone gathered from Aidan Wilson as Airdrie chased what would now just be a consolation goal.

Things went from bad to worse for the Diamonds as Rus raced clear with 14 minutes remaining, MacDonald sliding in to bring the Romanian winger down and Dowds stroking home from the penalty spot.

Sub Gavin Gallagher played Frizzell in on 78 minutes, the Diamonds skipper squaring for Agyemang who could only curl wide.

The game fizzled out with a series of fouls and substitutions, and Airdrie headed back down the M77 to pick up the pieces ahead of next weekend’s Premier Sports Cup trip to Premiership Dundee.