Gable Endies’ bid for play-offs dealt blow by Diamonds

AIRDRIEONIANS MONTROSE 2 1

Montrose’s hopes of making the promotion playoffs were dealt a blow after this narrow defeat at the Penny Cars Stadium last night.

Stewart Petrie’s side now sit five points behind the Diamonds, who are placed in fourth having played a game less, while the Gable Endies have three difficult games left to salvage any chance of reviving their promotion dream.

Airdrie started the game brightly, causing issues for the visitors when playing into the channels.

A long ball to Callum Gallagher created the first chance of the half.

The striker won the header and charged on to the ball to force Allan Fleming into a strong save from 25 yards.

Ian Murray’s side took the lead after Aidan Quinn stumbled unfortunately in possession.

Diamonds attacker Kyle Connell was on hand to win possession from the visiting defender, opening his body to curl a fine finish low into the corner of the net.

Connell almost grabbed his second only minutes after, capitalising on more poor defending between Quinn and Sean Dillon to blast a shot down the throat of Fleming.

Montrose were forced into an early change on 23 minutes when Hearts loanee Harry Cochrane went off with an injury.

Substitute Matty Allan linked well with Lewis Milne to force Max Currie into his first save of the match.

Another good chance went begging for Airdrie when Kyle Turner’s freekick was curled in at the back post to find Dale Carrick unmarked.

The Diamonds’ top scorer could not connect properly to double his side’s lead.

The Gable Endies created

their best chance of the half just before half-time.

Terry Masson’s effort on goal was blocked well by Callum Fordyce after Milne’s lofted ball was knocked down by veteran striker Ross Campbell.

Airdrie started the second half at a great pace and got their rewards on the hour mark.

On-loan Kilmarnock forward Connell received the ball on the edge of the area and scored his sixth goal for the Diamonds, driving low past Fleming.

Currie was forced into a sequence of important saves as Montrose pushed the game higher into the Airdrie half. The home

keeper denied Masson with a low save and then Chris Mochrie as the substitute broke free on goal on 72 minutes.

But Airdrie’s keeper had no chance with Montrose’s next effort. Club top scorer Graham Webster came off the bench to curl a fantastic shot past Currie and into the top corner on 80 minutes.

The defeat means that Montrose must take points in their next game, tomorrow against Cove Rangers, to stand any realistic chance of promotion.

● East Fife’s League One clash with Clyde at Broadwood last night was

called off after a Bully Wee player tested positive for Covid-19.

The news broke just before the teams were away to kick-off and, after talks with his players, Fife boss Darren Young revealed his club had decided not to fulfil the fixture.

He said: “Why it has happened that late towards a game I don’t have a clue.

“When I spoke to the guys, three or four of them have partners who are pregnant so I could not put guys like that at risk.”

The Bully Wee are locked in a battle to avoid the relegation play-offs with this postponement now posing a further headache.

SCORER: Graham Webster, who pulled a goal back for Montrose late in the second half.