Bird goal too late as Diamonds see off Red Lichties

Arbroath’s survival hopes in the cinch Championship were hanging by a thread last night as Airdrie finally made their dominance count late on at rainsoaked Gayfield.

After being on the back foot for much of the first half, the Lichties passed up a gilt-edged chance when Leighton McIntosh saw his penalty saved five minutes before the break.

Max Boruc made a number of crucial saves to keep the scores level but the deadlock was broken after 71 minutes when Callum Fordyce headed home.

The deficit was doubled as Gabby McGill added a second 10 minutes later, and despite Jay Bird netting in injury time, there would be no dramatic comeback.

Jim McIntyre’s side remain nine points adrift with five games remaining.

Arbroath almost went behind inside the first 30 seconds when Boruc’s poor clearance fell at the feet of Aaron Lyall who quickly sent the ball back goalwards. However, the keeper redeemed himself with a good stop.

Scott Stewart’s cross narrowly evaded all inside the six-yard box as Arbroath responded in a positive fashion, but chances were hard to come by as the half went on.

They had a huge escape on 25 minutes after Lewis McGregor muscled his way through before being denied by Boruc who diverted the ball against the post. The rebound spun the way of Lyall who lashed an effort that caught the wind before being booted to safety.

Airdrie had the ball in the net 10 minutes before the break, Nikolay Todorov tapping home Mason Hancock’s cross, though the striker’s celebrations were quickly cut short by the offside flag.

After absorbing a deluge of pressure on their goal, Arbroath were handed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when they were awarded a penalty.

McIntosh and Michael McKenna tussled over who would take the resulting kick – and the striker may have regretted his enthusiasm when his effort was saved by Robbie Hemfrey.

The Diamonds looked bright following the restart. Dean McMaster had a dipping shot from distance that dipped inches over, then Lyall stung the palms of Boruc.

The opening goal arrived after Fordyce leapt unchallenged to power home Charlie Telfer’s corner.

Boruc then did well to keep out Calum Gallagher’s rasping drive, but the game would be out of sight minutes later. A wellworked move concluded with McGill steering Adam Frizzell’s delivery into the net.

There was some late hope for Arbroath when Bird’s free-kick sneaked through Hemfrey’s grasp, though it was to be a case of too little, too late.

Jay Bird grabbed a late consolation goal.