Airdrieonians 1, Dunfermline Athletic 2.

A GOAL in each half proved the difference as Dunfermline claimed victory in a rainy Lanarkshire.

Jame McPake’s injury-hit squad looked fairly comfortable throughout the tie however a late penalty caused late concern for the Pars.

The trip to North Lanarkshire had promised to be a close affair but offered Athletic the chance to extend their unbeaten run against Airdrie to six games.

Dunfermline started the game in fourth position in the table on 18 points while Rhys McCabe’s men were fifth and a point behind the West Fifers.

Dunfermline had the upper hand in the first half and deserved to go in at half time a goal ahead.

The opening minutes brought with it plenty of Pars pressure and Josh Edwards was the first to try his luck on goal when he floated a cross-cum-shot in which went just over, landing on the roof of the net.

Former Athletic striker Nikolay Todorov looked destined to get his name on the score sheet when the ball came to hm from a corner. His header came back off the inner side of the crossbar and somehow was cleared to safety.

Josh Edwards was back on the attack just before the half hour mark when he beat the Airdrie keeper to the ball out wide and crossed in to McCann whose header went wide.

McCann became provider on 36 minutes when he took the ball on a run in the box before picking out a perfect pass to Edwards who just had to side-foot his effort into the back of the net.

The second half started with Dunfermline on the attack again. They had a foray on goal within a minute after good work from Ben Summers. He put through McCann who tried to slot the ball through to Craig Wighton but the home side cleared.

Joe Chalmers had a chance just before the hour mark when he turned in the box and fired towards goal but his effort went just over.

Substitutes Alex Jakubiak and Matty Todd combined on the 68th minute to double Dunfermline’s lead. Jakubiak made his way into the box and pulled the ball back to Matty Todd who fired home to make it two.

There was another chance minutes later. This time it was Paul Allan who got the ball out wide. His effort was punched out by the Airdrie keeper and came to Edwards who fired low and just wide.

Airdrie created some pressure of their own with ten minutes left on the clock and Denis Mehmet had to rise superbly and palm a header over the crossbar. Minutes later he was called again and produced a solid block at close range to thwart the Airdrie advance.

Jakubiak caused more problems soon after when he drove towards goal but his shot hit the knees of Rae and went out for a corner.

There was injury drama when Airdrie were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes after a Paul Allan foul.

Calum Gallagher slotted the ball past Mehmet to make it 1-2 but the Pars held off to claim victory.

Airdrieonians

Rae, Taylor-Sinclair, Hancock, Fordyce, Frizzel (O’Connor 60)l, Todorov (Gallagher 60), McStravick, McMaster, Megwa, Watson, Gallagher.

Subs: Melrose, Hutton, McCabe, Dunlop, McGill, Cassidy, Spalding.

Goals: Gallagher (92)

Bookings: Gallagher, O’Connor

Dunfermline

Mehmet, Comrie, Edwards, Hamilton, Otoo, Chalmers, Wighton (Jakubiak 60), McCann (Moffat 79), Summers (Todd 60), Allan, O’Halloran.

Subs: Sharp, Little, Fenton, McLeod.

Goals: Edwards (36), Todd (68)