Airdrieonians FC 1 vs 3 Ross County

Ross County were 3-1 winners at the Albert Bartlett Stadium as a wonderful Lewis Gibson strike went unrewarded.

The Diamonds welcomed the Dingwall side for the second time this season, having already lost 3-0 in July’s Premier Sports Cup meeting, and there was to be no revenge for Airdrie on this occasion as Stuart Kettlewell’s men kept up their 100% record.

Head coach John Rankin made four changes to the side which lost at Hamilton last weekend, Declan Gallagher, AJ Bridge, Callum Burnside and Liam McLeish coming in to the starting XI to replace Adam Devine, Kian Taylor, Robbie Mahon and Matty Yates.

Airdrie started brightly, Burnside racing for the bye-line after Sam Fisher, playing in the right-back berth, had won an aerial duel to launch the attack. The Rangers loanee squared for Bridge, but his pass was just out of the midfielder’s reach.

Ross County’s ninth-minute penalty claims fell on deaf ears as a shot was blocked by the hand of Craig Ross at point-blank range.

The Diamonds were forced into a 12th-minute change when Gavin Gallagher went down with a hip problem, Taylor a direct replacement.

Declan Gallagher stood strong against his old side three minutes later as Adam Emslie led the attack, and Jack Turner fired wide from outside the box as the visitors pushed for the breakthrough.

Airdrie were also moving the ball well, a flowing 18th-minute move taking the Diamonds up the park and resulting in a corner, with McLeish hooking over after Gibson had worked Taylor’s cross back into the box.

There was a touch of fortune about Ross County’s opener, with Fisher losing his footing as he looked set to get in front of Emslie’s 26th-minute strike. The Staggies winger took full advantage and placed a precise finish beyond Jamie Sneddon.

Airdrie were left scratching their heads at the referee after Gibson was booked for the slightest contact on Lewis Strapp on 28 minutes, while Brian Graham escaped punishment after halting a break by dumping Burnside to the ground seconds later.

Five minutes later the visitors had doubled their lead, Sneddon producing a one-handed save to deny Emslie only for Graham to cut back to Jamie Lindsay, who slotted home despite Fisher’s efforts to get back and block.

Gibson’s 43rd-minute free-kick was nodded wide, and the highlanders took their two-goal advantage into the break.

Yates replaced Ewan Simpson at the break for the Diamonds, who started the second half in determined mood, Gibson’s deflected shot spinning into Brad Foster’s gloves after Burnside had fashioned an opportunity on 48 minutes.

The midfielder wasn’t to be denied two minutes later, Burnside again dictating play and finding the run of Taylor, who squared to Gibson. A quick switch of feet took Akil Wright out of the game, and Airdrie’s recent signing curled a fine finish around Strapp and beyond the dive of Foster.

Their tails up, Airdrie went in search of a quick equaliser and Gibson came close to grabbing it less than a minute after scoring as Bridge clipped a fine pass forward. Gibson got the better of Lewis Reid, but his dinked effort went the wrong side of the post this time.

A flurry of substitutions midway through the half seemed to work in the visitors’ favour as momentum once against swung their way, Sneddon producing another top save on 71 minutes as the ball looked destined for the back of the net.

Three minutes later the net did ripple, Wright finding space to head home a corner kick in simple fashion.

Their two-goal margin restored, County were able to absorb any Diamonds pressure, substitute Mahon heading wide from the edge of the box on 78 minutes before Staggies sub Richard Chin blazed over three minutes later.

Foster gathered a powerful Burnside strike at the second attempt with three minutes remaining, and a scrappy ending to the match saw County take the points.

Having faced the top three in consecutive weeks, Airdrie now have a break from league action with Tuesday’s KDM cup match against Stirling Albion before the League 1 fixtures resume with a home tie against East Fife in a week’s time.