Airdrie had to make changes in this game as midfielders Marvyn Wilson, suspended, and Lee Gardner, not fit to start, were missing from the Airdrie midfield. In came Paul Armstrong in right midfield and Paul Harvey, playing as a trialist, in centre midfield. Stranraer had new keeper John Hillcoat making his debut with former Diamond Willie McCulloch dropping to the bench. David Farrell failed to make an appearance for Stranraer against his old club due to a foot injury.

Airdrie again tried to play their fluent passing game but the changes in midfield forced the team to take a while to settle. Armstrong and Harvey both had some uncomfortable moments early on as they adjusted to their new surroundings. Harvey looked a lot less agile than Airdrie fans remember him from his earlier time at the club, but he settled into a reasonable game. Armstrong grew in stature as the game wore on and would have a major part to play in our revival.

Stranraer weren't up just to make up the numbers. Strikers Michael Moore and Lee Sharp were given ample opportunities during the first half to give Stranraer the lead and some uncustomary slack defending from the Airdrie defence left them with a few early half chances. Airdrie did have a great chance to take the lead midway through the first half when Armstrong fed Boyle down the right flank. The wee veteran fired over a searching cross into the danger zone that Ronald rose like a hardo.. sorry, salmon to meet. I, and I'm sure 1500 others, thought he was going to head it back across the keeper inside the nearside post, but he had headed down to his strike partner Glancy who managed to blast the chance over the bar.

Airdrie were to regret that miss a quarter of an hour later as the veteran defensive duo of Jimmy Boyle and Kenny Brannigan (a total of 73 years between them!!) managed to make a complete and utter hash (really trying hard to remain expletive free here) of an easy clearance 25 yards out, right on the right touch line. Stranraer's left winger Lurinsky waltzed between the hapless veterans and easily outpaced them as he drove into the box and fired beyond the badly exposed former Stranraer goalie, Mark McGeown, in the Airdrie goal.

Airdrie came out fired up in the second half though and were playing some seriously positive football. Armstrong and Docherty were looking vibrant in midfield and McVey on the left was looking to get forward at every opportunity. Glancy and Ronald were working hard but luck was deserting them. Five minutes in and Airdrie got their rewards. McVey broke down the left and fired another superb cross into the box (almost a mirror image of Boyle's earlier effort). Ronald again rose like a hardo.. sorry salmon, but his pathetically weak header was blocked at point blank range by the new Stranraer keeper. Fortunately for Airdrie the ball landed at the feet of the onrushing makeshift midfielder, Paul Armstrong, who calmly lobbed the keeper from 12 yards out. Ronald's tumbleweed moment worked out to our advantage and fans favourite Paul Armstrong milked his moment in the spotlight.

Stranraer weren't out of it though and hesitancy in the Airdrie penalty box gifted Michael Moore with a close range shooting opportunity but his excellent turn and shot was held by the equally excellent block by Mark McGeown in the Airdrie goal. McGeown has quietly become a favourite with the Airdrie fans. His timely stop was to prove crucial as Airdrie were to take the lead soon after. Glancy, who ran his heart out all day, found space on the left to whip over another majestic cross, this time to the far post, and it found Paul Ronald wheeling into space unmarked. Ronald was heard shouting "hold the tumbleweed" and sweetly rose like a hardo.. sorry salmon and this time he did send his header into the back of the net. The big striker was visibly relieved to end his goal drought and he was quick to acknowledge the input of his strike partner.

Airdrie United (3:5:2): McGeown; Brannigan, Stewart, Vella; Boyle, Armstrong, Harvey, Docherty, McVey; Glancy and Ronald. Subs: Gardner for Boyle after an hour (Armstrong went to RWB and Gardner to right midfield). Willie Wilson for the injured Docherty with five mins left, and Darren Miller for Harvey in the last minute.

Stranraer: Hillcoat, Gaughan, Wright, Wingate, Sharp, Marshall, Finlayson, Aitken, Moore, Hodge, Lurinsky. Subs: Grace, Renicks, Fallon, Jenkins, McCulloch.

I'll do the player profiles on Monday night.