League leaders Falkirk scored three with no reply to take the points from a top versus bottom clash at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.

Diamonds boss Rhys McCabe made three changes from the side which had lost at Ayr on Saturday as Aidan Wilson, Liam McStravick and Chris Mochrie came in for Sam Graham, Lewis McGrattan and Ricco Diack.

Some early half-chances for the hosts came to nothing as Adam Frizzell’s cross was blocked after good play by McStravick and Gavin Gallagher and a Lewis Strapp volley across the face of goal was controlled at the far post after beating Nicky Hogarth.

Falkirk retaliated through Alfredo Agyeman, who saw an angled effort blocked by the legs of Kieran Wright.

With nine minutes on the clock the visitors took the lead, Aidan Wilson only able to glance a header into his own net following a corner kick. Although replays showed a clear shove on the Airdrie defender, referee Iain Snedden allowed the goal to stand.

A deflection at the other end a minute later took the ball back to Hogarth after Mochrie had done well to skip into the box, and Ben Wilson saw an effort blocked after some persistent play from Frizzell.

Liam Henderson escaped a booking after a bad foul on Dean McMaster which eventually led to the midfielder hobbling off, with McStravick failing to make the advantage count as he sent his 15th-minute strike over the top.

Sean Mackie remained calm to turn out of defence as Mochrie and Wilson looked to link up on 26 minutes and Falkirk again got a rub of the green when Hogarth rushed out to challenge Wilson and collided with a defender, the ball falling kindly for the visitors when an Airdrie interception would have led to an open goal.

A 29th-minute barge on McStravick went unpunished on the edge of the box, and less than ten minutes later Falkirk had doubled their lead.

Agyeman’s shot was deflected wide via the post, and the resultant corner was taken short to captain Brad Spencer. His cross was caught by the wind leaving Wright in no-man’s land, and the ball dropped into the net behind the helpless keeper.

Miller Thomson had two shots on goal as the half came to an end, but missed the target on both occasions.

Airdrie started the second half with a nice passing move, Frizzell drawing a reflex save from Hogarth before half-time substitute Aaron Reid sliced the loose ball wide of the upright.

Reid fired wide from a similar position on 59 minutes, and Keelan Adams volleyed over from a good position as Falkirk tightened their grip on the match.

A good finish from substitute Aidan Nesbitt was unrewarded as a foul had been committed in the build-up, with Spencer then firing narrowly over.

Wright saved well from Calvin Miller after the full-back had shown good control to create the opportunity on 71 minutes.

Airdrie almost pulled one back as Wilson fired in a powerful strike after capitalising on a short passback, but as Hogarth pawed the ball into the path of Tom Lang the defender’s touch fell the wrong side of the post.

The result was sealed on 77 minutes as a corner was headed out by Rhys Armstrong, with Falkirk sub Barney Stewart beating Wright to the returned cross and nodding home from close range.

Lewis McGregor saw an 88th-minute strike smothered by Hogarth, and the final whistle called time on a difficult night for the Diamonds.

A do-or-die clash with Hamilton Academical is next up for the Diamonds, who have the opportunity to come within eight points of their Lanarkshire rivals with a win on Saturday.