FOR a generation of schoolkids in Airdrie, Bryan Prunty was an idol and the hero of their First Division football team. So, it was only fitting that one of the moments of the night's Championship play-off tussle went to the local lad. 

The game - incidentally a 1-0 win for Morton - was just minutes away from kick off when Prunty strolled across the pitch and made his way towards the far stand. With a wave, he lit the fuse and sparked the lucky 500 fans in New Broomfield into celebration for the first time in 14 long months. 

This was a match of those kinds of moments. You know the ones: an injection of life on the occasion you can’t recreate on a mixing desk. Where the opponents were loudly jeered as they took to the pitch or a nasty tackle was greeted with the kind of industrial language that had the national broadcaster rushing to say sorry to those watching at home. 

The Herald: Airdrie legend Bryan Prunty Airdrie legend Bryan Prunty

It was also a game which saved its drama for the final flurry. With a draw all but certain, a battered and bruised Brain McLean popped up and found the head of Robbie Muirhead to give the Ton the goal their second-half endeavour deserved. 

“You would rather be one ahead than one behind,” said Morton boss Gus MacPherson. “But it doesn’t mean a great deal and it’s just another 90 minutes of football.

“You could see the difference with Airdrie and it was absolutely fantastic to have supporters in there.” 

For Greenock Morton, in theory, the favourites to win the tie, it was a moment to savour and one which gives them a clear mission ahead of Friday’s second-leg: avoid defeat and they’ll play Championship football next season. 

Not that Airdrie will be pushovers. The Diamonds emerged with plenty of credit, going close through Callum Gallagher, Sean Crighton, and Paul McKay, and will fancy their chances of securing a spot in the second-tier for the first time in a decade, despite the late heartache. 

That was mostly due to the encouraging display of Kyle Turner in the middle of the park. The Dunfermline loanee was a joy, pulling at the Morton threads and driving his team forward. 

It was the midfielder’s industry which twice sent Airdrie charging up the pitch during the first-half, their fans roaring them on, only for McKay and later Euan O’Reilly to fail to make the most of the guests’ hesitancy.

The latter had forced Scott Fox - an emergency loan signing after an injury to Aidan McAdams - into his first save since March 2020, but it was Airdrie’s Max Currie who came up big when his side needed him most. 

With the Ton midfield finally getting a foot on the ball, Kyle Jacobs scooped it towards Cameron Salkeld and off he charged through the heart of the Diamonds defence. Out of nowhere, Leon McCann intervened but could only look on in horror as his tackle headed straight for the back of the net. He was the happiest man in North Lanarkshire when Currie hooked it to safety. 

Much like Airdrie’s thrilling win last week against Cove Rangers, the game fell into a bit of a lull either side of the break. And like that occasion, it didn’t help that several key players left the field before their race was run. 

McKay and Dale Carrick hobbled off for the Diamonds and Jacobs’ night was over not long after. 

The Herald: Robbie Muirhead, right, won the day for Morton Robbie Muirhead, right, won the day for Morton

But in a game plagued by injuries, Morton’s quality soon began to tell and moments after Reece Lyons had hit the post, up popped Muirhead to win the day five minutes into injury time.

Although this will still be remembered as a night for the fans. 

“I am delighted they could come to see us,” said Airdrie boss Ian Murray. “The backing they gave the players was excellent and well deserved.

“We will do everything to turn this tie around to get us into that Championship.”