Airdrie clawed back some ground on Dunfermline Athletic with a stunning victory over the Pars, with three of last weekend’s scorers on target once again.

After a delay to kick-off to ensure that an early-afternoon snow flurry could be cleared from the pitch, the Diamonds started with one change to the side which beat Dumbarton 5-1 in last Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie, Lewis Strapp returning from injury to replace Mason Hancock – himself injured, but fit enough to aid with the snow shovelling prior to kick-off.

Dunfermline, with new manager Michael Tidser taking the reins for his first Championship fixture, started brightly, Kane Ritchie-Hosler drawing a second-minute save from Kieran Wright after a storming run down the right.

The Airdrie keeper had to be on his toes again three minutes later as a Ewan Otoo cross almost sneaked under the bar, but it was his opposite number Tobi Oluwayemi who was producing the heroics shortly after.

The on-loan Celtic custodian first blocked Mochrie’s near-post effort after Gavin Gallagher had crossed from the left, and a minute later he produced a fine reflex save as Craig Watson headed goalward after a pinpoint Strapp cross.

Matty Todd almost got in on goal on 11 minutes as play raged from end to end, but a tremendous Dylan MacDonald tackle averted the danger.

Gallagher shot over after good work from Strapp and Ben Wilson a minute later, but the Diamonds opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a beautiful controlled finish from Lewis McGrattan. The midfielder played a through-ball for Wilson to chase, but Oluwayemi dashed off his line to save at the striker’s feet. The keeper could only look on as the ball spun in McGrattan’s direction, and the ex-Morton man opened the scoring with a fine volleyed effort.

The next Airdrie chance also fell McGrattan’s way on 23 minutes, but this time Oluwayemi was well placed to field the spectacular strike.

As Airdrie continued to press for a second, Strapp saw a header strike the crossbar as he raced in to meet another Graham flick.

Joe Chalmers sent his effort high and wide just after the half-hour mark, and Gallagher was calm enough to head back to Wright under pressure as the visitors attacked again five minutes later.

With three minutes of the first half remaining Airdrie had the ball in the net again, a bouncing ball being forced over the line following a corner kick, but referee Duncan Williams signalled a foul for Dunfermline in the crowded box. As the Pars got play moving quickly, Wright saved well from a powerful Tommy Fogarty strike.

Just as the Diamonds looked to be taking their one-goal lead into the break, Chris Mochrie doubled the advantage deep into stoppage time, feeding Wilson and controlling the return pass before stroking home for his fourth goal in as many matches.

Adam Frizzell went agonisingly close immediately after the restart, a nick off a defender taking his angled shot wide after Wilson and McGrattan had combined out wide.

Strapp broke up a five-on-two counterattack on 52 minutes before Oluwayemi saved an audacious overhead effort from Watson a minute later.

Airdrie’s third came on 57 minutes, McGrattan sending a sublime first-time pass through the middle for Wilson, who stroked the ball past Oluwayemi to net his tenth goal of the season.

McGrattan scooped a 61st-minute effort just over the bar, and three minutes later Wilson was inches away from connecting with a wicked Frizzell cross to grab a surefire fourth.

A flurry of changes from both sides saw the game slow slightly, but there was a welcome sight for home fans as midfield maestro Liam McStravick made his long-awaited return from injury.

New Dunfermline signing Connor Young drove a free-kick into the wall with ten minutes remaining, and Lewis McGregor was unlucky not to find fellow substitute Ricco Diack with his final pass after the pair had worked the ball forward well.

Graham continued his good form with a couple of important blocks as the visitors mounted a late attack, with Young missing an open goal from close range before Kieran Ngwenya smashed the ball into the side netting following a slip in the middle.

Frizzell got a touch on a stoppage-time Dunfermline corner and although his skewed header looked bound for the top corner of his own goal, it flew wide of the upright and the Diamonds were able to claim a clean sheet as well as an impressive victory.

Queen’s Park are next up for the Diamonds, who will be looking to build on the momentum and continue to put pressure on today’s visitors at the foot of the table.