The young Diamonds' cup campaign continues, thanks to a late strike from Divine Iserhienrhien to send Banks O’Dee back up north empty-handed.

It was a knockout thriller on Friday night as a blend of Airdrie's U17 and U19 squads looked to put the visitors Banks O'Dee to the sword under the Albert Bartlett Stadium floodlights.

Sam Gibson started in goal, meanwhile Euan Hamilton captained the Airdrie side. U17s players David Ruddy, Stephen McKay and Sam Gallagher also stepped up to play for the cup squad of under-18s.

The Diamonds kicked the game off, and it looked to be a tight affair as both sides struggled to create opportunities in the early stages. The first chance came in the sixth minute when Banks O’Dee goalkeeper Max Blackwood calmly caught a Ruddy shot.

The opposition fired back quickly as they forced a powerful punch from Airdrie’s number one, who cleared the ball from danger.

The Diamonds began to pile on the pressure against the Aberdonian side however, Ronald Nimyel with a curling effort from the edge of the box foiled only by Blackwood. Only a minute later, another curling attempt on goal from Nimyel was just wide of the post.

In the 22nd minute, a beautiful backheel from Jacob Bonad found the feet of Hamilton, but his shot was fired into the hands of the Banks O’Dee stopper.

Banks O’Dee remained resilient, forcing the first of many superb saves from Gibson - who confidently tipped a shot wide from close range. Gibson continued to impress as he denied the highlanders with an acrobatic save minutes later.

It was Airdrie who broke the deadlock on 35 minutes. Nimyel, in a dangerous area, was taken down illegally by an opposition midfielder. Anthony Harris stepped up to take the free-kick, whipping the ball around the wall and into the bottom-right corner.

Despite dominance from the Diamonds, the ball found itself in the Airdrie net twice – less than ten minutes apart. Both goals were rightfully ruled out for offside, maintaining the Diamonds lead at half time.

The Dee came out swinging at the start of the second half, scoring within 20 seconds of kickoff as Logan Petrie volleyed home from a ball into the box after Airdrie had lost the ball in a dangerous area.

Gibson’s exquisite performance continued in the 64th minute as he dived down quickly to deny the visitors from taking the lead, palming the ball out for a corner.

Gibson came to the Diamonds' rescue once again, his acrobatic effort preventing Banks O’Dee from scoring again as he pushed the ball to safety.

Bonad was the first player to make his way into the referee’s book, his late challenge earning him a yellow card in the 70th minute.

The Sam Gibson show continued, with another two top-class saves from the Airdrie goalkeeper keeping the sides level deep into the second half.

In his search for a winner, Alan Gow looked to the bench to make an impact as Nimyel, Bonad and Ruddy made way for Guy Bainbridge, Jack MacMillan and Kyzer Fealy.

The Diamonds' change of shape almost worked instantly when a mazy run from Iserhienrhien into the box set the Diamonds forward up for an effort at goal, which sailed over the bar in the end.

Gibson was in action once again as Banks O’Dee found themselves in a two-versus-one situation, but again the Airdrie 'keeper was unfazed. He denied the Dee attacker who was played through with a reflex save.

With six minutes remaining, Airdrie's perseverance paid off. Some quality work on the wing by Dylan Baldwin took the ball around the opposition defender and found the feet of Iserhienrhien, who was on hand to fire home.

There was almost a quick double for the number seven, but his emphatic header was ruled out for a foul in the build up.

The side from the Granite City faced a brick wall in Gibson. He denied the visitors one final time in the third minute of stoppage time.

The away side were unable to find an equaliser in the dying minutes, to the delight of the young Diamonds.

Airdrie now find themselves in the hat for the fourth round of the SFA Youth Cup. The Diamonds will await news of who they will face in the next round, as they look to go on a cup run under the guidance of Gow and his coaching team.