The deadly Diamonds sucker-punched Forfar for their second win over the Loons in four days.
Having recovered from a nightmarish start with the gift of a goal to their visitors after just four minutes, the Station Park side looked set to take a point and arrest a worrying dip in form.
But a strike in the dying stages from Airdrie sub Scott Morton put the Sky Blues’ play-off into reverse.
Manager Dick Campbell admitted the slump is a concern.
“We’re going through a bad spell and we’ve got to show some real character,” he said. “We started by giving away a horrible goal and then brought ourselves back into the game, but all credit to Airdrie they kept working hard and hit us with the sucker punch.”
Campbell made a couple of changes from the Sky Blue side that suffered a 3-1 reverse at New Broomfield, with starts for Bryan Deasley and Jamie Bishop at the expense of Barry Sellars and Ryan Dow who dropped to the bench.
The Loons created an early opportunity when Deasley’s driving run set Ross Campbell up to give visiting keeper Mark Ridgers his opening test, but a couple of minutes later the hosts were on the back foot.
From an Airdrie break up the right flank, the Station Park defence stood rooted, while Ryan Donnelly ghosted in to skim the Diamonds’ opener past Scott Gallacher.
Forfar regrouped and Paul McQuade had a 16th-minute shot, but hit it straight at the keeper, before Michael Bolochoweckyj headed away a dangerous Gary McKay-Stevens free kick at the opposite end.Pressure rewardedA McQuade header and then a Dale Hilson volley from a Ross Campbell pass were part of Forfar’s first-half response, and the Loons were rewarded with an equaliser before the break.
From a free kick, Bolochoweckyj’s downward header was blocked at the post, but McQuade was on hand to bundle the leveller over.
A quick-fire 51st-minute Forfar break gave Ross Campbell an opening, but he pushed a right foot effort wide of the target and the Loons continued to press.
Airdrie then upped the tempo and responded with decent efforts from Graeme Owens and Ryan McCord, whose 16-yard volley brought a fine stop from Gallacher.
Ross Campbell then tried his luck with a looping effort before latching on to a Hilson pass for another Forfar assault.
At the other end, Gallacher got down to hold an Owens free kick and the same player came within inches of connecting a diving header with a tantalising Morton cross.
Ryan Donnelly then sprung the Forfar offside trap with six minutes left to force a great block from the Forfar keeper.
The Diamonds’ determination to take the win continued with a blistering drive from substitute Jamie Stevenson that clipped the post, and their reward came with the late, late show involving Owens in a supporting role with a neat flick on which Morton despatched from close in.
Airdrie manager Jimmy Boyle felt his never say die side got their just reward.
“I’m really delighted for the players, I thought they worked hard and deserved it,” he said.
Attendance 419. Forfar Gallacher, Ross, McCulloch, Bishop, Bolochoweckyj, I. Campbell (Sellars 63), Hilson, Mowat, McQuade, R. Campbell (Templeman 76), Deasley (Dow). Subs not used Gibson, Duffy. Airdrie Utd Ridgers, Bain, Smith, Devlin, Grant, Owens, Johnston, McCord, Gemmill (Morton 63), Donnelly (Shaw 90), McKay-Stevens (Stevenson 56). Not used Blockley, Szpilcynski.Referee Steve Nicholls.