Airdrie remain bottom of the Championship after conceding at the death against Livingston.
The Diamonds looked like they had earned a point at Almodvale, with Aaron Reid’s second goal of the season in 31 minutes quickly cancelling out Stephen Kelly’s 18-yard strike that opened the scoring just two minutes earlier.
However, Andrew Shinnie rifled home a stoppage time stunner to claim all three points for the Lions and consign Airdrie to a third straight defeat.
Rhys McCabe’s men had to survive some intense pressure in the second-half, with Reid clearing Michael Nottingham’s volley off the line, and could have won it themselves eight minutes from time when substitute Chris Mochrie forced a fine save from Jerome Prior.
But Shinnie lashed home from 25-yards to send the home support wild. Livi remain third and stay unbeaten in the Championship, four points off leaders Ayr with two games in hand. Airdrie have still won just once in seven Championship games and are rock-bottom with Dunfermline.
McCabe made three changes from last week’s 2-0 defeat at Morton with Murray Aiken, Aaron Reid and Mason Hancock coming in for Chris Mochrie, Ben Wilson and Rhys Armstrong, who was suspended after his red card at Cappielow. The depleted visitors were also only able to name four outfield substitutes.
The Lions were back in action after a two-week break due to scheduled opponents Falkirk playing Celtic in the League Cup semi-finals last weekend.
It took both sides a while to find their feet and it was 14 minutes before the first real sniff of a chance. Diamonds midfielder Lewis McGregor lofted a ball over the top to find the run of Reid. As the striker got a touch on the ball, outrushing Lions keeper Jerome Prior collided with him inside the box. Airdrie fans were screaming for a penalty, but referee Kevin Clancy wasn’t interested.
Livi’s first sight at goal came in 22 minutes when the ball fell kindly for Stephen Kelly on the edge of the box and he fizzed an effort wide of Murray Johnson’s right-hand post.
Moments late, some quick feet and skill from McGregor made room for an opening down the right for Airdrie and the Lions required a fine interception from Ryan McGowan at the near post to snuff out Reid, who had darted towards the front post.
Up the other end, Johnson was called into action for the first time when Daniel Finlayson picked out Stevie May in the box. He swivelled and fired at goal, but the young Hibs loanee was equal to the strike.
That was a wee warning for the Diamonds – and moments later they fell behind. Robbie Muirhead weaved his way forward before laying the ball off to Scott Pittman, who then nudged the ball right for Kelly to fire a low strike into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
However, that was the wake-up call the visitors needed, as they found an immediate response. A good move down the right worked the ball to Dylan MacDonald and his first-time cross was caught sweetly on the volley by Reid as he raced into the box, sending a fine effort soaring into the net past a helpless Prior.
The Diamonds thought they had edged in front five minutes before the break when McGregor went one-on-one with Prior and slotted home, but the flag went up for offside.
As half-time approached, a late tackle from Lewis Smith on Cammy Bruce in the middle of the park, after the whistle had blown for an earlier foul, sparked a bit of handbags in the middle of the park. Both sets of players became embroilled in some argy-bargy that referee Clancy quellled with a booking for Smith, as well as Hancock and Michael Nottingham.
Less than 60 seconds into the second half, Livi should have regained the lead. The Lions pounced on a slack clearance from Hancock and when Smith hung the ball up at the back post for unmarked Kelly, he headed into the side-netting from five-yards when he looked destined to score.
Livi were looking for a penalty when Smith went down trying to evade the clutches of Hancock. The referee waved play on and Livi went close to a second goal from the next attack, when May poked the ball goalwards from Muirhead’s cross. Luckily for Airdrie, Johnson was alert enough to keep it out at his near post.
In 57 minutes Airdrie were forced to replace the injured Dylan MacDonald after he took a knock. One of Airdrie’s four outfield subs Lewis McGrattan came on in his place.
The Lions kept on knocking and it took a header off the line from Aaron Reid of all people to keep Airdrie level in 63 minutes. A cross to the back post was headed back into the danger area by May to find Nottingham, but his his volley was cleared away by Reid to deny him a certain goal.
Pittman then dragged a volley just wide from the edge of the box as the pressure mounted on the visitors.
The Diamonds still had a threat of their own and Chris Mochrie was a whisker away from snatching the win for Airdrie in 82 minutes when Frizzell’s delivery across the face of goal found him, but his shot was superbly saved by Prior.
However, in the first minute of stoppage time Liam Sole setup Shinne and he fired a superb strike past Johnson.
Airdrie host Dunfermline next weekend, while Livingston head to Partick Thistle.
LIVINGSTON: Prior, McGowan, Finlayson, Clarke, Nottingham, Brandon, Pittman, Kelly, Muirhead (Shinnie 75), Smith (Sole 88), May (Winter 75).
Scorers: Kelly 29, Shinnie 90+1
Bookings: Smith, Nottingham
Subs not used: Pataluga, Montano, McAlear, Lawal, Stark, Green.
AIRDRIE: Johnson, Watson, Graham, MacDonald (McGrattan 58), Hancock, Bruce, Frizzell, Aiken, Gallagher, McGregor (Mochrie 64), Reid (Cooper 90).
Scorers: Reid 31
Bookings: Hancock, Aiken, Mochrie, Watson
Subs not used: Wright, Taylor-Sinclair.
HT: 1-1
Ref: Kevin Clancy
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