Reports of our revival were somewhat premature. As many feared, we went out of the CIS Cup to the wee team up the road. A humbling experience for our premier players who lost to a team which is currently signing on a month at a time.
Mio and Softy stuck by the eleven who started against Hearts at the weekend. But we were not playing a team suffering a dip in form, Airdrie are on the up and played with the confidence gained from leading the First Division.
After a ten minute spell, when we managed a couple of forays up either wing, the first blow shook the big team's complacency. The referee gave a very soft free kick for a high challenge on Coyle - though many of the large away section assumed that the foul would be awarded against him for dipping his head dangerously low.
They took the kick smartly and crossed it into the box. The ref again obliged the Diamonds by pointing to the spot. He indicated that Ready had been tugging a jersey. Coyle, looking lean and keen as ever, slotted the ball into the net.
We reached the break with only a few efforts to lift our hopes. The highlight was a great run from Forrest from his own box to the opposition's. He passed to Elliott and the ball eventually fell to his feet again. He had a good shot and the goalie did well to see it past the post.
The half time talk seemed to bear fruit. We stormed at them in the first ten minutes of the restart. A quick cross from Elliott gave Nicholas a volley at the near post but he was off target.
Then Pearson was set loose into the box and his effort was deflected wide. Then we got the deserved equaliser. A low cross from Hammell came off a defender and struck the underside of the bar. It may have crossed the line, but it bounced kindly for Kelly who headed home.
At this stage it looked like there was only one team going to win - not so!
We failed to finish them off. And though we had several close efforts from Elliott, and a couple from Pearson they had their moments too. A classic stramash unfolded in our six yard box. Shots flew in, bodies were thrown in blocking tackles and eventually the ball went out for a corner. When the dust settled, Leitch was on the ground and needed five minutes to recover.
Then we gave the match away. Keith Lasley was clearing from ten yards to concede a corner but he swept the ball into the net. We knew he game was lost.
We made three substitutions in the last five minutes but to no avail.
It was a game which could have gone either way but it was the Airdie announcer who had the last laugh - "Taxi for Cowan!" was the cry on the PA just before the final whistle.