A goal in each half saw Airdrie go down 2-0 to the league leaders as the Diamonds’ good fortunes at the Falkirk Stadium came to an end.

With his options once again limited by injuries, Rhys McCabe made two changes to the side which lost at home to Hamilton Academical last weekend, Cammy Bruce, Chris Mochrie, Terrell Agyemang and Ben Wilson making way for Flynn Duffy, Gavin Gallagher, Rhys Armstrong and Cammy Cooper.

Following an immaculately-observed Remembrance ceremony, the first ten minutes of the match were somewhat stuffy as the sides sounded each other out, Craig Watson and Duffy mopping up half-chances for the home side before Watson shot well over at the other end.

The defences continued to come out on top in the early stages, Brad Spencer stopping Adam Frizzell in his tracks on 11 minutes, with Armstrong and Luke Badley-Morgan preventing Falkirk opportunities shortly after.

A mazy run by Frizzell saw the Diamonds skipper playing in Armstrong on 14 minutes, but Liam Henderson was first to the midfielder’s cross.

Ethan Ross fired just wide on 18 minutes after a fast attack down the Falkirk right, and the forward was denied by a well-timed Sam Graham challenge two minutes later.

As Falkirk began to create more clear-cut opportunities in the second quarter, Gary Oliver sent a powerful near-post header just wide.

Airdrie replied through Armstrong, who watched his shot clear the bar after being set up by Frizzell once again.

Kieran Wright produced a good diving save to deny Spencer just after the half-hour mark, and a minute later the goalkeeper got his fingertips to a stinging effort from the same player.

Duffy managed to divert Keelan Adams’ 33rd-minute cross wide for a corner, but Airdrie’s relief was short-lived as the corner kick broke kindly for Adams six yards out, and the former Cumbernauld Colts man prodded home.

Oliver should have added a second two minutes later, but went for the spectacular with a backheel flick which span wide of the upright.

Wright got across to deny Aidan Nesbitt with his feet as the hosts continued to press, but Frizzell broke well with five minutes of the half remaining, firing a low ball across the six-yard line with nobody in a Diamonds shirt able to apply the finishing touch.

Dylan Tait spurned the final chance of the half, lifting the ball well over the bar.

As the home side came racing out the traps after the break, Airdrie had Wright to thank again as the keeper made another top point-blank save on 47 minutes.

Armstrong slipped on the edge of the box after battling well to get in a decent position, with Gallagher helping out his defence as Falkirk countered.

Wright added another good save to his increasing collection, flying across goal to push away Calvin Miller’s curling effort on 52 minutes.

As Airdrie continued to push for an equaliser, a 58th-minute block denied Lewis McGregor, and a minute later Falkirk had doubled their lead.

Breaking down the right, Adams slid a low ball across the box and Miller raced in to beat Graham and Wright to the cross and bundle home.

Henderson got across to block a 67th-minute shot from substitute Ben Wilson, with Ross shooting wide of the target at the other end a minute later.

McGrattan warmed the palms of Nicky Hogarth on 71 minutes, driving into the box and firing in a shot which the keeper held well. The Diamonds midfielder got another strike away a minute later, this time requiring a much more comfortable save.

Falkirk sub Callumn Morrison saw an acrobatic effort ripple the side netting after Wright had parried his initial effort, with Tait then missing the target after some neat footwork.

With five minutes remaining Wilson was desperately unlucky with an angled header which beat Hogarth all ends up, only to smack back off the face of the bar.

Fellow substitute Terrell Agyemang saw his header go narrowly over the top a minute later, with Morrison firing over as the match moved into stoppage time.

The final whistle signalled another disappointing afternoon for the Diamonds, who visit 9th-place Dunfermline Athletic next week knowing that a win would reduce the gap at the bottom to one point.