Dylan MacDonald was the unlikely hero for Airdrie as they kicked-off the new Championship season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Raith Rovers.The 20-year-old defender, who joined from Lowland League East Kilbride in the summer, grabbed the winner on his league debut for the Diamonds, nodding home from Lewis McGregor's cross in 76 minutes to grab all three points.It also extended Airdrie's impressive unbeaten run against the Kirkclady side to six games.Ben Wilson, who had scored in every competitive game since joining in the summer, came close for the hosts before the goal after crashing an effort off the crossbar three minutes into the second half, while Airdrie had Aidan Wilson to thank for clearing a Callum Smith header off the line moments later, in what was Rovers' best chance of the game.But it is an East Kilbride youngster - who was plying his trade in the fifth tier of Scottish football just a few months ago - who has helped Airdrie enjoy a perfect start to the campaign with a striker's finish.The Diamonds made four changes from last week’s cup win over Queen of the South as Murray Johnson gots the nod in goal ahead of Rangers loanee Kieran Wright.

Dylan MacDonald, player-boss Rhys McCabe and Lewis McGrattan came back into the side at the expense of Cammy Bruce, Craig Watson and Chris Mochrie.In the Raith squad, there were plenty of familiar faces on show with last season's player/assistant boss Callum Fordyce in the backline, while fellow ex-Diamonds Callum Smith and Dylan Easton also started for the side managed by ex-Airdrie boss Ian Murray.The hosts made a lively start and inside 60 seconds Mason Hancock burst into the box, before finding the side netting from his early sight at goal.Two minutes later, a

Airdrie 1 Raith 0: Dylan MacDonald the unlikely hero as Diamonds make winning start

Related News