Airdrie 0-3 Kilmarnock

Jul 20 2008 Brian Welsh Reports

AIRDRIE were simply no match for Kilmarnock who strolled to victory thanks to a James Fowler super strike and a Danny Invincibile double.

The SPL outfit created the first opening after just four minutes when Invincibile got in behind the the Diamonds defence but he blazed over from 20 yards.

The hosts responded and Steven McDougall's cross was headed wide at the back post by Darren Smith.

Airdrie had Paul Di Giacomo in their line-up following his recent switch from Rugby Park. But recent Killie signing Allan Russell, who made the opposite journey, must wait another month to make his debut after suffering a knee injury.

The Killie support got a goal to shout about seven minutes from the break - and it came from an unlikely source. David Fernandez's shot was parried by Airdrie keeper Stephen Robertson and when the ball fell to Fowler 25 yards out the Killie man sent a shot into the top corner.

The goal lifted the Ayrshire side and Gavin Skelton and Mehdi Taouil came close to adding to the goals before half-time.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies made four changes at the interval with sub keeper Chad Harpur, Grant Murray, Gary Locke and Jamie Hamill on.

But it was the Diamonds who started brightly and Smith wasted another chance by shooting wide.

Kilmarnock then killed the game in 58 minutes. Invincibile beat the offside trap and rounded Robertson to double the advantage.

Di Giacomo then came close as Airdrie responded and with 15 minutes left Killie keeper Harpur had a great double save from sub Stuart Noble at the back post.

The Rugby Park side ended Airdrie's salvage hopes when Invincibile curled home a third in injury time.