AIRDRIE 7, ALBION ROVERS 0: SPARKLING DIAMONDS RACK UP COMFORTABLE FRIENDLY WIN

Airdrie ran riot in their Monklands derby clash at home to Albion Rovers as the new season looms.

Goals from Lewis McGrattan, Sean McGinty and Craig Ross had the Diamonds home and hosed by the interval, with Chris Mochrie, Cammy Cooper (2) and Dylan MacDonald adding strikes in the second half.

While Rovers never really came that close to causing a shock, they did well against much higher-league opposition, with a few trialists doing themselves absolutely no harm, certainly in the first half.

McGrattan gave Airdrie the lead in 12 minutes and McGinty doubled that lead with a powerful header 13 minutes later.

Ross added a third six minutes before the interval to put a bit more gloss on the win as confident Airdrie knocked the ball about, and Mochrie bagged a fourth just before the hour-mark..

It was no more than the Diamonds deserved from a sharp, attacking display that showed shades of them in season 2023/24, when they were arguably at their best.

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe handed starts to new signings Sean McGinty, Euan Henderson, Craig Ross, Jamie Barjonas and Alex King, while Adam Aird was on the bench.

Rovers gaffer Sandy Clark handed starts to new signings Tyler Denholm, Chris Neeson and Devan McColl, amongst 13 trialists.

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Airdrie started brightly and on the attack, but it was Rovers who had the first real effort on goal, as Sonny Aluko fired wide of the right post from inside the box in three minutes.

Rovers captain Barry Duncan sent a dipping shot past the right post from 19 yards in six minutes.

Airdrie's Lewis McGrattan saw a shot tipped just past the left post by Rovers' Trialist goalkeeper in nine minutes.

The Diamonds took the lead in 12 minutes when Lewis McGrattan was sent down to the left bye-line and rounded Rovers' trialist goalkeeper before slipping a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Airdrie went close in 16 minutres when Dylan MacDonald's header was blocked on the line, McGinty had an effort booted clear, and Gavin Gallagher connected, but not enough to score.

They went close again in 18 minutes when Dylan MacDonald's cut-back from the right was met by McGrattan, but this time his shot skidded past the left post.

Rovers' Tyler Denholm and Trialist D combined well in 20 minutes, but Cade Melrose gathered well at the No.7's feet.

Jamie Barjonas had a sight of goal in 23 minutes, but fired well over.

The Diamonds doubled their lead in 25 minutes when Alex King's corner from the right was met with a back-post header by Sean McGinty that ripped into the net.

Airdrie tried again in 30 minutes but this time MacDonald's low ball across goal from the right was just too far ahead of Chris Mochrie.

Sonny Aluko sent a shot skidding past the right post in 35 minutes, as Rovers continued to pose a threat.

King's corners were causing chaos in the Rovers box, and that allowed Ross to send a crisp shot into the net in 39 minutes to make sure of the win.

Euan Henderson was denied a fourth Airdrie goal for offside in 57 minutes.

But Airdrie did add a fourth a minute later as Chris Mochrie found the net with a curling strike.

Cammy Cooper got in on the act in 72 minutes, smashing home a shot from Liam McStravick's set-up.

Alex King had a powerful shot brilliantly punched away from the top right corner in 65 minutes as Airdrie threatened to further add to their lead.

But they did in 72 minutes when Liam McStravick set up Cooper to smash low into the net.

And they were at it again four minutes later when MacDonald curled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

Aluko nearly broke through through for Rovers, but was crowded out.

But Airdrie added a seventh in 84 minutes when Dylan Williams' powerful shot was parried well, but Cooper knocked in the rebound for his second of the afternoon.

AIRDRIE: Melrose, MacDonald, McGinty, Mochrie, Gallagher, Henderson, Ross, McGrattan, Barjonas, King, Armstrong

Subs: Hutton (GK), McStravick, White, Cooper, D. Williams, C. Williams, Aird, Trialist, Chisholm

ALBION ROVERS: Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Neeson, Trialist D, Aluko, Denholm, Brown, Trialist F, McColl, Duncan

Subs: Trialist G (GK), Trialist H, Trialist I, Trialist J, Trialist K, Trialist L, Trialist M, Trialist N

Referee: Gavin Duncan

2025-07-05T15:53:59Z