The reserves took a lot of credit but no points from their second Reserve League Cup match against Airdrie United at New Broomfield.
Alan Upton’s side included three players who faced Edinburgh City in the Scottish Cup just over 48 hours earlier and also featured trialist Derek Colquhoun, who had not played since scoring in the Third Division match against Arbroath last month.
The hosts included a number of first team players and, on paper, appeared to have the stronger squad.
Shire had the better of the opening quarter and twice forced the home keeper into decent stops.
But the home team gradually took control and opened the scoring towards the end of the half when Fox headed home a Prunty cross.
The goalscorer might have made it 2-0 in injury time but was denied by a fine save from Greig Mitchell.
The second period saw both sides go for goals and neither team really had any superiority over the other. But clear cut chances were few and far between after the break and Airdrie United held on to their advantage until the finish.
Airdrie United : Hollis, Craig, McKee, Jenkins, McMillan(Kilday), Donnelly(Brady), Fox, Taylor(Donaghy), Prunty, Gillies, Watt.
Shire ; Mitchell, Upton, Carr, Doyle, McDonald, McShane, Donaldson, Wilson, K. McBride(Trialist 51),McLachlan, Trialist.