Scott Brown’s first-half strike ended Raith’s Airdrie hoodoo as the Diamonds’ poor form and poor fortune continued.

Neither Dylan MacDonald or Gavin Gallagher recovered sufficiently to make the starting line-up following knocks sustained against Ayr United at the weekend, though Gallagher was deemed fit enough for the bench. Cammy Bruce made an unexpected return to the team with Lewis McGregor also coming in to the XI.

16-year-old Academy twins Cole and Dylan Williams were named among the substitutes, along with U18s star Jamie White – on the occasion of his 17th birthday.

Ex-Diamonds Callum Fordyce and Dylan Easton lined up for Neill Collins’ side, with Andrew McNeil, Callum Smith and Lewis Jamieson on the Raith bench.

An early burst of pace from McGregor saw the forward burn past Lewis Stevenson in the second minute, but his square pass was booted clear by Paul Hanlon.

The former Hibs stalwart repeated the feat four minutes later when good tackling from Murray Aiken allowed Ben Wilson to get a low cross over, and it was Aiken who was helping out at the other end as Finlay Pollock raced down the right.

Raith tried their luck from the opposite flank on 16 minutes, but this time Sam Graham was there to mop up, and when the home side got a shot on goal a minute later, Fankaty Dabo fired well over.

Murray Johnson gathered a deflected Sam Stanton effort on 19 minutes, but there was nothing the keeper could do a minute later when Raith captain Scott Brown lashed home from outside the box to give his side the lead.

Airdrie responded well, but were unable to penetrate a stuffy home defence, Rhys Armstrong’s 23rd-minute free-kick deflected back to Kevin Dąbrowski before the Diamonds midfielder went close again with a near-post strike two minutes later.

Luke Badley-Morgan marshalled the lively Pollock on 28 minutes, with the former Hearts man testing Johnson with a dangerous cross seconds later.

Craig Watson fired in an excellent 31st-minute cross for Cammy Cooper, but experienced defender Hanlon headed clear before Raith broke up the park and Johnson had to palm Jack Hamilton’s angled volley over the bar.

A series of Airdrie corners came to nothing as half-time approached, Dąbrowski eventually punching clear after some pinball in the box.

The last chance of the half fell to Easton, who lost his footing as he shaped to shoot and sent his strike high over the bar.

Terrell Agyemang replaced Aiken at the interval, and the Middlesbrough loanee provided a much-needed spark in the middle for the Diamonds, allowing Adam Frizzell to tee Bruce up to cross on 48 minutes, with Dąbrowski having to look lively to stop the curling ball sneaking under the bar.

The Raith keeper saved from Agyemang a minute later, and the former Manchester City youngster was at the heart of things again on 51 minutes, winning possession and advancing before slipping in McGregor, with a last-ditch block preventing the shot.

A minute later the Diamonds were denied a stonewall penalty kick when Dabo threw his arm out to block Agyemang’s header – all three officials somehow missed the incident.

Airdrie had less convincing penalty claims on the hour mark when Cooper went down in the box under pressure, and Johnson easily handled a Hamilton header three minutes later as Raith began a rare spell of second-half possession.

Brown shot from a similar range to that which he scored from on 66 minutes, but this time cleared the bar, and Easton saw a shot blocked with the Rovers fans behind the goal shouting for handball.

A good tackled prevented Cooper getting a 71st-minute shot away, and Dabo survived another half-hearted handball appeal before McGregor sent a dipping effort narrowly wide with eight minutes remaining.

The final action of the match saw Dąbrowski providing a superb diving save after substitute Chris Mochrie had linked well with Bruce and the ball was flicked goalward by Wilson.

The final whistle signalled another frustrating defeat for Airdrie, with Dunfermline’s surprise win over Livingston leaving the Diamonds four points adrift at the bottom ahead of Saturday’s home match against Hamilton Academical.