Mason Hancock rescued a point for shaky Diamonds in their Championship basement battle at home to Dunfermline Athletic.
The Englishman stooped to head in at the back post when Adam Frizzell’s cross from the right wasn’t cleared by the Pars defence, cancelling out Chris Kane’s first-half penalty.
It keeps both sides at the bottom of the table, but neither side could really afford the other winning this, even at this early stage in the season.
Kane put Dunfermline ahead from the spot in 28 minutes, which was cancelled out by Mason Hancock’s header in 67 minutes.
Dunfermline possibly edged a tight first half that often raged end-to-end, but it was an easy decision for ref Peter Stuart when Murray Johnson appeared to upend Aaron Comrie – though the Pars man looked to be running out of play.
The second half was more even, but Airdrie levelled in 67 minutes when Hancock stooped to head in a cross that should really have been cleared by the Pars defence.
Diamonds boss Rhys McCabe made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Livingston last weekend. Lewis McGrattan and Luke Badley-Morgan came in for Cammy Bruce and Lewis McGregor, who both dropped to the bench.
His Dunfermline counterpart James McPake made three changes to the side that lost at home to Queen’s Park by the same margin. Joe Chalmers, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Craig Wighton came in for Sam Young, David Wotherspoon and Lewis McCann.
After a 10-minute delay due to a medical incident in the away stand, the game got underway.
Airdrie started well and after a sweeping move in three minutes, Adam Frizzell’s cross from the left was met at the back post by Dylan MacDonald, but he sent his effort well over the top left corner.
Matty Todd sent an angled chip past the left post as Dunfermline threatened in nine minutes.
Aaron Reid had a header saved by Dunfermline keeper Deniz Mehmet 60 seconds later.
Dunfermline’s Todd went on a run but saw his shot deflected narrowly past the left post in 24 minutes.
But the Pars took the lead in 28 minutes through a Chris Kane penalty, after keeper Murray Johnson was judged to have felled Aaron Comrie.
Airdrie responded almost immediately through Frizzell, but his shot was well saved by Mehmet.
Dunfermline nearly doubled their lead in 30 minutes when Kane was sent through on goal, but his flick was headed away by Johnson, who had come off his line to meet the experienced striker.
The Pars went close again in 41 minutes when Chalmers’ corner from the left was headed just over by Tom Fogarty.
At the other end, Airdrie’s Gavin Gallagher sent a shot just past the left post from just outside the box.
Gallagher tried his luck with another low shot from distance, but it again flew past the left post.
Todd tried a rocket shot from distance in 56 minutes, but it flew well over.
Frizzell’s corner from the right was headed over by Badley-Morgan in 56 minutes, when the midfielder should have done better.
Todd made a good run and made his way to the right bye-line in 60 minutes, but his cut-back was too far ahead of Kane Ritchie-Hosler.
Craig Wighton created a chance for himself in 67 minutes and saw his half-volley well held by Johnson.
Airdrie levelled in 67 minutes when Frizzell’s cross from the right was allowed to reach Hancock at the back post, and he headed in.
Ritchie-Hosler’s cross from the right was met with a glancing header y sub Josh Cooper, but was well saved by Mehmet.
MacDonald saw a shot punched off the line in 77 minutes from a Frizzell corner.
Frizzell saw a shot deflected past the left post in the final minute, but no corner was given.
Sub David Wotherspoon let fly with a 20-yard free kick that was well saved at the top left corner.
AIRDRIE: Johnson, MacDonald, Watson, Graham, Hancock, Badley-Morgan, Aiken, Gallagher (Armstrong, 78), Frizzell, McGrattan (McGregor, 55), Reid (Wilson, 49)
Subs (not used): Wright (GK), Bruce, Cooper, Mochrie
Bookings: Watson (40), MacDonald (50), Gallagher (66), Aiken (79)
DUNFERMLINE: Mehmet, Comrie, Fogarty, Chalmers, Otoo, Hamilton, Clay (Sutherland, 84), Todd (Mebude, 72), Ritchie-Hosler, Wighton (Cooper, 72), Kane (Wotherspoon, 76)
Subs (not used): Briggs (GK), Hamilton, Fisher, O’Halloran, Young
Bookings: Fogarty (61), Clay (64), Ritchie-Hosler (68)
Referee: Peter Stuart
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