Airdrie scraped through to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup with a narrow victory over battling Clydebank.

In a high-tempo first-half it was the visitors who dominated the action, racing into the lead after just 10 minutes when Craig McPherson headed home before veteran striker Owen Coyle drilled in a 25-yard drive on the half-hour mark for the second.

But the Bankies battled back and kept themselves in touch with a goal five minutes before the break when Alex Burke scored from the penalty spot.

In the second half, Clydebank continued to press in the search for an equaliser and they should have found it with a minute to go when youngster James Gilliland raced clear, but he blasted straight at the goalkeeper when well placed.

Airdrie: Ferguson, Docherty, McPherson, Stewart, McManus, James, Taylor, MacFarlane, Coyle, Roberts, Smith

Subs: Beesley, McDonald, Armstrong, Dunn, Bennett