Ten-man Airdrieonians saved their slim League One title hopes alive with a dramatic late win over struggling Dumbarton.
The Diamonds knew solely a win would do to cease Cove Rangers claiming the title and so they did simply that after a dramatic finish to the sport at New Broomfield made it 18 video games unbeaten for Ian Murray's males.
Two objectives in three minutes from Dylan Easton and Calum Gallagher halfway by the first-half appeared to have Airdrie cruising, however George Stanger pulled a objective again for Sons earlier than Adam Frizzell was despatched off for the hosts in an action-packed opening 45 minutes.
When Rhys McCabe turned the ball into his personal web after 70 minutes Sons pulled degree and that was set at hand Cove Rangers the title, however substitute Jordan Allan popped up within the 88th minute to win the sport and ask one other query of Paul Hartley's league leaders.
Cove, who're nonetheless 5 factors clear, will likely be topped champions subsequent week in the event that they beat Sons at Balmoral Stadium.
Dumbarton stay ninth and their relegation play-off spot is now confirmed after backside facet East Fife had been relegated after defeat to Falkirk, whereas eight-place Peterhead's win over Queen's Park ensured Sons cannot catch them.
Airdrie made two adjustments from final week’s irritating 2-2 draw at Montrose. Josh Kerr and Scott Walker come into the facet, as participant/coach Scott Agnew dropped out together with Gabby McGill.
Dumbarton named the identical facet that drew with Peterhead final week, however there have been quite a lot of acquainted faces within the Sons facet with ex-Diamonds Gregor Buchanan, Paddy Boyle, Eoghan Stokes and Paul Paton all within the squad.
Airdrie received the primary sight at objective within the third minute, crafting a implausible opening when Rhys McCabe's ball by reduce proper by the Sons defence to search out Scott McGill. However the Hearts loanee could not maintain his effort down as he fired over from 10 yards.
Ross MacLean examined Diamonds keeper Max Currie with an angled strike contained in the field after 9 minutes, because the guests created their first opening of the competition.
Up the opposite finish Airdrie virtually broke the impasse with a flurry of probabilities in fast succession. First, Sons keeper Kieran Wright needed to be alert to show a Callum Smith volley on the again submit behind for a nook.
The ensuing set-piece from Dylan Easton fell to Calum Gallagher on the again submit and when his low strike was parried by Wright, the ball was returned again throughout objective to Easton, who watched a scorching strike on the half volley cannon again off the crossbar.
Dumbartion nonetheless carried a risk and so they had been screaming for a penalty when the ball hit Callum Fordyce's arm as he tried to dam a MacLean strike contained in the field, however referee Greg Aitken deemed it unintended.
Airdrie's early strain finally instructed within the twenty fourth minute. The ball got here to Easton on the fringe of the field and the winger confirmed terrific toes with a number of stepovers, creating area for him to arrow a low strike into the underside nook and make amends for final week's late penalty miss at Montrose.
Inside three minutes it was 2-0 because the Sons shot themselves within the foot. Smith pounced on a free again move by Paton and he teed up the in-rushing Gallagher to fireside the ball past a helpless Wright from 15 yards.
Dumbarton appeared for a means again into the competition and in 37 minutes Currie produced a nice save to show away a curling effort from MacLean, because the ball headed in direction of the highest nook.
Two minutes later, although, Currie was overwhelmed when Sons halved the deficit. Paul Paton made amends for his earlier error with an important supply into the field and Stanger stooped to go the ball into the underside nook.
It quickly become a nightmare couple of minutes for the hosts as Frizzell noticed purple. The playmaker went in for a 50/50 problem with Stuart Carswell simply contained in the Airdrie half and ref Aitken confirmed no hesitation in sending the winger off, but it surely appeared like a harsh determination.
With seconds remaining within the half, Airdrie breathed a sigh of aid as Carlo Pignatiello fired narrowly huge of Currie's left-hand submit.
The purple card unsettled Airdrie and 7 minutes into the second half they had been once more counting their blessings when Carswell fired at objective and noticed his low drive come again off the submit, with Currie overwhelmed.
Regardless of the numerical drawback, Airdrie nonetheless had the ammunition to pose issues and so they virtually discovered a 3rd objective within the fifty fifth minute. Celtic loanee Brody Paterson picked up the ball on the left and whipped in a terrific cross for Smith, who might solely flip the ball onto the roof of the web.
However Airdrie had been masters of their very own downfall 20 minutes from time when McCabe turned the ball into his personal web as Currie got here to gather a cross into the six yard field.
With Cove profitable at house to Alloa, the Diamonds wanted a objective to maintain their slim title hopes alive and Allan delivered when he turned house Smith's ball throughout objective two minutes from time.
The Diamonds now journey to Broadwood subsequent week for a Lanarkshire derby conflict with Clyde.
AIRDRIE: Currie, Paterson, Fordyce, Kerr, Walker (Allan 82), McCabe, Frizzell, Easton, S McGill (Devenny 75), Gallagher (Afolabi 68), Smith.
Scorers: Easton 24, Gallagher 27, Allan 88
Bookings: Currie
Despatched off: Frizzell
Subs not used: Cantley, McDonald, Ritchie.
DUMBARTON: Wright, Pignatiello, Buchanan, Stanger, Boyle (Wylde), Paton (Syvertsen), Orsi (Wilson 46), Duthie, Carswell, MacLean, Oyinsan.
Scorers: Stanger 39, McCabe 70 (og)
Bookings: Stokes,
Subs not used: McKee, Lynch, Ramsbottom, Muir, Bronsky
Ref: Greg Aitken
HT: 2-1
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