Mason Hancock headed Airdrie back into a tight battle with Dunfermline, though the Diamonds will feel they were unlucky to go behind to a contentious penalty.

Airdrie made two changes to the side which lost late on at Livingston last weekend, Luke Badley-Morgan and Lewis McGrattan replacing Cammy Bruce and Lewis McGregor in the starting XI, while Ben Wilson and Rhys Armstrong returned to the bench after missing out through injury and suspension respectively.

Kick-off was delayed after medical treatment was required in the South Stand, and it was the Diamonds who had the first chance when proceedings got up and running.

A nice third-minute touch by Aaron Reid and strong play by Hancock allowed Adam Frizzell to swing in a cross for Dylan MacDonald, who turned the ball wide at the back post.

Matty Todd found no way past Sam Graham on eight minutes, and Deniz Mehmet was on hand to catch Reid’s header two minutes later after a clever backheel flick by Hancock had diverted another Frizzell cross into the striker’s path.

It was Badley-Morgan’s turn to keep Todd quiet on 14 minutes, and the returning defender was involved at the other end soon after, heading down a free-kick delivery but failing to find a team-mate.

Todd saw a shot deflected over the bar midway through the half, but with 27 minutes on the clock the visitors were awarded a very soft penalty.

Aaron Comrie raced on to an incisive Craig Wighton pass, and as Murray Johnson made the save the players collided with referee Peter Stuart pointing to the spot. Chris Kane stepped up to find the net from the spot.

Airdrie’s response was rapid, and it took a fantastic Mehmet stop to keep out a rasping Frizzell drive, with Hancock stretching for the loose ball and scooping over the bar.

Kane was denied a second by an unorthodox Johnson save on 31 minutes, and the Diamonds were shouting for their own penalty four minutes later as Reid went down under a clumsy challenge, but the referee waved play on.

Mehmet fluffed his catch from a 37th minute Frizzell corner, but the Turkish goalkeeper smothered the ball on the deck as his defenders surrounded him.

Gavin Gallagher had two decent efforts from range as half-time drew closer, but both were just wide of the target.

Airdrie were forced into a change four minutes after the restart as Reid pulled up, Wilson replacing the striker before Mehmet held on to a Dylan MacDonald header.

Todd saw a long-range effort float harmlessly over the top on 55 minutes, and Badley-Morgan saw his header clear the bar from a free kick corner a minute later.

Frizzell and Todd saw promising cutbacks cleared as play went from end to end, and a scrappy spell followed where a series of yellow cards were shown to players from both sides.

Wighton fired straight at Johnson on 66 minutes, and a minute later the scores were level.

Aiken freed Frizzell down the right, and the skipper provided an excellent cross for Wilson, who could only help the ball on under pressure from Comrie. Hancock, who had found space at the back post, dashed in to beat Mehmet to the ball and angle his header under the keeper’s despairing dive.

A desperate block denied MacDonald a goal on 78 minutes, with Craig Watson’s header going agonisingly close seconds later.

Mehmet took advantage of a heavy touch from substitute McGregor with five minutes remaining, and Frizzell went close again with another powerful strike in the final minute of regulation time.

The final chance in stoppage time fell to Dunfermline sub David Wotherspoon, who saw his free-kick well held by Johnson.

Still nothing but goal difference to separate the sides at the foot of the table, but with a tight pack above both managers will be pleased to have avoided defeat ahead of a break from league business.