Airdrie United 3 - 1 Ayr United

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 20:12

AIRDRIE finally notched their first win of the season and moved off the foot of the table after digging deep to get the better of their basement rivals.

The fates eventually smiled on the Diamonds but not early on when Welsh referee Lee Evans was in the spotlight for turning down penalty appeals after a clumsy challenge by Martyn Campbell on Ricky Waddell.

Airdrie dominated the early possession culminating in Diarmuid O'Carroll's crisp diagonal pass releasing Ricky Waddell, but the winger's shot was brilliantly turned behind by the diving Craig Samson.

Samson was beaten and booked as Airdrie went ahead with a controversial opener, Trouten converting Waddell's cross from 14 yards.

However, the Ayr keeper was convinced he had been impeded and took his protests too far.

The Diamonds looked dominant but handed Ayr a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when a mix-up in defence saw Ryan McCann deflect Kenny Connolly's pass behind the helpless Robertson.

It was harsh on the home side who squandered a chance to reclaim the lead on the restart when O'Carroll fired over after being put through by Baird.

However, the striker atoned when he converted Waddell's cross following a period of sustained pressure by the home side. Airdrie sealed the points when Trouten collected McCann's defence-splitter and calmly lofted the ball wide of Samson.