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The opening line for Airdrie was going to be a bit of a mystery, Paul Lovering was almost ruled out on Friday night as he had been suffering from a virus and there was no news on Neil McGowan after the never re-appeared for the second half against Dundee on Tuesdays night. So it was a surprise to see Lovering listed on the bench, Fraser Coyle replacing him and Neil McGowan sitting in his usual position in the centre of defence.
Airdrie began the game quickly and with in minutes forced Ross County's Garden to make a save from point blank range. Ross County would open the scoring first as they broke up field. A cross ball caught Frazer Coyle wrong footed and as he tried to head the ball back to Robertson he was bundled of the ball. Higgins squared the ball to Winters and the score line was 0 -1 Ross County with only four minutes on the clock.
Would this turn in to the rout every one expected?
Stephen McDougall looked like he had other ideas when he turned County's Zadi inside out, as he ran in to the box he struck a sweet shot that left Garden standing. Unfortunately his shot rattled the cross bar. For long periods of this game Airdrie were in control of this match and on thirty three minutes we got our reward as Brian McPhee rose above the crowd and headed home.
Ross County were not finished there however and just before the end of the half Sean Higgins made it 1- 2. Cowie drove a wicked pass from the half way line into the path of the onrushing McKinlay on the right wing, once again Frazer Coyle had the chance to clear but totally fluffed the chance. McKinlay picked out Higgins as he ran in to the box and scored easily.
Coyle never re-appeared for the second half and Paul Lovering replaced him.
Again Airdrie pressurised Ross County and came close to scoring. But it would be Ross County who with only their third shot on goal would extend the lead. Once again McKinley found Cowie this time in the box, his initial header dropped back to his feet and he slotted home from eight yards out.
Brian Prunty would score our second and the final goal, Brian McPhee received a short corner and lobbed the ball in to the Box, Prunty was on hand to header the ball in to the back of the net. We pushed on after that and held County back but we could not find the opening needed to hold on to a point.
Match Preview by Chris Mac | 
