Airdrieonians 2 PARS 1

DUNFERMLINE'S hopes of a place in the promotion play-off places all-but ended after they fell to defeat at Airdrieonians.

Goals from Dean McMaster and substitute Gavin Gallagher, either side of a Malachi Fagan-Walcott equaliser, gave the Diamonds three points at the Excelsior Stadium.

The defeat leaves the Pars fifth, nine points behind their opponents, who are fourth in the Championship table and in the final promotion play-off place, with just three games left.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the visitors, who are also 11 goals worse off compared to Airdrie, and their supporters, who backed their team in large numbers.

"We got exactly what we deserved from that game," boss James McPake said post-match.

"Particularly in the first half we were out-ran, out-fought, outplayed. Credit to Airdrie for that, but we made it really easy for them in the first half.

"You work all week, you pick a team, and then, when something's not working, you've got to try and change it. That's what we tried to do, but they were miles better than us today.

"The way they got after us, compared to the way we got after them, was disappointed. It looked like they out-worked us today as well."

There was one alteration to the Dunfermline team from the side that started last weekend's draw with Partick Thistle.

Alex Jakubiak missed out on a place in the match day squad, with Lewis McCann taking his place, and Andrew Tod taking a seat on the substitutes bench.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, ex-Par Rhys McCabe named an unchanged Airdrie team from their impressive midweek win at Raith Rovers, which put them six points ahead of Athletic ahead of kick off.

With just four games to go, both teams knew the significance of this encounter, with McPake's squad knowing that a victory would take them to within three of their opponents and the final promotion play-off place.

A big travelling support gathered behind the goal that the Pars attacked in the opening 45 minutes and, although the sun came out at kick off, the wind that had swirled around the Excelsior Stadium ahead of the match made life difficult for both teams.

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Not that they were short on endeavour, and within the first six minutes, ex-Par, Nikolay Todorov, and Chris Kane, had both sent efforts off target at either end.

McCann headed a difficult opportunity over after Kane and Fagan-Walcott had kept a Josh Edwards ball into the box alive before the visitors - and the wind and bounce of the ball - almost caught out home goalkeeper, Robbie Hemfrey.

Kyle Benedictus flighted a high ball forward for Edwards and, as he came off his line to intercept, the ball moved away from Hemfrey, allowing the full-back to get onto it.

Fortunately for the Diamonds stopper, the angle was against Athletic's number three as he hit the side net.

Charlie Telfer then curled a decent effort over for the hosts, before Benedictus blocked a Todorov shot, before Edwards produced a well-timed block to deny former Kelty Hearts loanee, Kanayo Megwa, after the Diamonds cut the Pars open on the left hand side.

Deniz Mehmet made the game's first serious serious from a Gabby McGill volley, after Telfer played him through, before Kane nodded over after Fagan-Walcott headed Ritchie-Hosler's cross on to him.

However, Airdrie continued to threaten, with Mehmet beating away a decent strike from ex-Dunfermline skipper, Callum Fordyce, before they made the breakthrough right on half-time.

They took a short corner on the left and, after an initial effort was blocked, McMaster rifled low into the net from around 20 yards to land a blow on Pars' play-off hopes.

McPake reacted at the interval by making two changes, taking Miles Welch-Hayes and Joe Chalmers off for Michael O'Halloran and Owen Moffat, but it was the hosts who had the early second half chances.

Mehmet was called into action to push a decent Telfer effort out for a corner, before the Pars keeper produced a better stop to keep out a header from former team-mate Todorov.

At the other end, McCann controlled a Fagan-Walcott free-kick forward, turned, but shot wide from 16 yards, before the Pars levelled just after the hour mark.

Todd's inswinging corner to the back post found Fagan-Walcott in acres of space, and he said thank you very much as he volleyed in from close range.

That sent the away end into celebration mode whilst home player / boss McCabe took Todorov and Adam Frizzell off, sending on Lewis McGregor and Gavin Gallagher - and the latter had an immediate impact.

Just two minutes after Dunfermline's equaliser, he was on hand to hammer home from around 12 yards after quickly-taken Telfer free-kick into the box was squared into his path, handing the initiative back to the Diamonds.

Todd and Moffat both fired efforts off-target as the Pars tried to respond for a second time, but they were indebted to Benedictus for a tremendous tackle on McGregor, as he ran in behind their defence and in on goal, to prevent a third Airdrie goal.

The skipper, though, took a knock for his trouble and had to be substituted, as the visitors continued to try and find a route back into the game.

O'Halloran tried his luck from the right-edge of the box but couldn't find the target, before sub Andrew Tod fired a late free-kick at Hemfrey.

The youngster forced the keeper into another decent stop into stoppage time, after Kane had lashed home after he had been flagged for offside, but the Pars slipped to defeat and saw their promotion play-off hopes all-but disappear.

Airdrieonians: Hemfrey, Ballantyne (Lyall 45), Hancock, Fordyce, Frizzell (McGregor 62), Todorov (G. Gallagher 62), McMaster, Megwa, Watson, Telfer (Donnell 86), McGill (C. Gallagher 86).

Subs not used: Taylor-Sinclair, O'Connor, Dunlop.

Goals: McMaster (45), G. Gallagher (63).

Booked: Todorov (57).

Pars: Mehmet, Ritchie-Hosler, Welch-Hayes (O'Halloran 45), Benedictus, Fagan-Walcott, Edwards, Otoo, Chalmers (Moffat 45), Todd (Tod 66), McCann (Holmes 72), Kane.

Subs not used: Breen, Fisher, Sutherland, Benjamin, Little.

Goal: Fagan-Walcott (61).

Referee: Grant Irvine.