Ryan gives Diamonds the advantage as they make mockery of league finish

AIRDRIE

Ryan 52

ALLOA

It is advantage Airdrie in their play-off semi-final with Alloa after a deserved 1-0 first-leg success at the Excelsior Stadium.

Andy Ryan grabbed the game’s only goal and Diamonds’ head coach Mark Wilson’s only regret before Saturday’s second meeting is that his side do not have a bigger lead.

The hosts went close after two minutes when Iain Russell spun free at the edge of the box but shot over.

For Alloa, Calum Waters then rampaged forward on the left and Airdrie keeper Rohan Ferguson used his legs to block the full back’s drive – the Wasps’ only effort on target on the night.

Ryan robbed Graeme Holmes 30 yards from goal with 14 minutes gone and his low effort looked net-bound until Neil Parry stretched out a hand to turn the ball round.

Parry excelled again three minutes later when he turned away a well-struck shot from Adam Brown.

Airdrie, who finished the league season 10 points behind Alloa, continued to press but their former shotstopper denied Ryan and Russell in quick succession.

Airdrie started the second half by creating another

0 Andy Ryan: Match winner excellent chance when Ryan Conroy whipped in a free-kick but Ryan’s head flick was straight at Parry.

The breakthrough came on 52 minutes when Joe Gorman released Conroy on the left and his cross found Ryan, who had risen above Frank Mckeown, and the striker forced a header home from six yards.

Ryan came close to adding a quickfire second when a Conroy free-kick bounced about the visitor’s box however he could not get a final touch on the ball.

In Airdrie’s next attack, visiting substitute Steven Hetherington blocked a cross from Kyle Hutton and Parry had to dart across his goalline to grab the ball before it trickled into the net.

Parrywascalledintoaction again with 16 minutes left to block a drive from Adam Brown after the youngster had darted past two static Alloa men before letting fly from the edge of the box.

Alloa looked to get back into the tie in the closing minutes but the experienced figure of Simon Mensing ensured that their defence stood firm.