In horrible weather conditions the game kicked off with a few surprises in the team line up.
Bobby Linn, Danny Denholm, Leighton McIntosh and Blair Yule all started on the bench with Omar Kader, Ryan Wallace, David Gold and Ryan McCord all making the starting line up with Robert Douglas also stepping in to help out with Ricky Gomes missing due to a family emergency.
A howling gale blew through the Excelsior stadium which really didn’t help in a first half with little real chances at either end.
The few half chances probably edged it in the home side’s favour and with more composure in front of goal they could have perhaps troubled David Hutton.
It was the Arbroath keeper and referee Colin Steven who really woke up the home crowd just before half time as Hutton ran out to claim the ball, before tumbling over and spilling out of the 18 yard box.
The referee pointed for a free kick with Hutton handling the ball outside of his box but no red or yellow cards came and instead Airdrieonians were left with only a free kick.
The Lichties definitely had the better of the play in the second half but it was still an open game with play sometimes racing from end to end.
Gavin Swankie seen a shot deflected on the hour mark before coming closer on the 71st when he took advantage of a mistake and was a few inches away from lobbing keeper Ferguson but his shot was just wide.
Danny Denholm came on for David Gold, with Sean McIntosh just getting to the ball as Ryan Wallace was about to shoot.
Leighton McIntosh came on for Wallace and Blair Yule came on for McCord with 9 minutes to go.
Airdrieonians went down to 10 men with 4 minutes remaining as Jordan McGregor was shown a second yellow card for handball.
In the final minutes deep into injury time McIntosh had a shot saved before a turning drive denied Swankie who thought he had won it.
In the end, it was a point apiece as the Lichties made it 10 points out of 12 for 2018.
C’mon the Lichties
1 David Hutton
2 Ricky Little
3 Colin Hamilton
4 Thomas O’Brien
5 Scott Martin
6 Mark Whatley (c)
7 David Gold (Denholm 71)
8 Ryan Wallace (McIntosh 81)
9 Ryan McCord (Yule 81)
10 Gavin Swankie
11 Omar Kader
12 Kane Hester
14 Leighton McIntosh – 8; 81st
15 Danny Denholm – 7; 71st
16 Bobby Linn
17 Blair Yule – 9; 81st
21 Robert Douglas (GK)
