The Diamonds tasted defeat for the first time this season as they were left to rue missed chances when Dundee scored two late goals to snatch all three points in Forfar.

Plenty of first team players started the match for Airdrie, including Cammy Cooper, new signing Tate Xavier-Jones and goalkeeper Cade Melrose. Chisholm retained the captain’s armband with White still unavailable, meanwhile Aird, Dylan Williams and Cole Williams all came back into the midfield after missing Sunday’s match.

Just three minutes in, Cade Melrose was required as he stormed off his line to snuffle out a Dundee attack after a mistimed header from a defender.

A minute later, Luton loanee Xavier-Jones caught sight of the goal for the first time when his effort was blocked after a penetrating Aird pass.

Melrose continued to be heavily involved, firstly gathering at the feet of an attacker from a through ball on 7 minutes, before Dundee swung in a dangerous corner which was punched clear by the Airdrie goalkeeper.

Xavier-Jones showed good feet down the right-hand side before delivering to Walczak, who sliced his shot wide on 20 minutes.

First team forward Cammy Cooper broke through on goal a minute later, surging forward with raw speed before his effort was parried away from goal.

Airdrie continued to attack the Dee goal, this time Cole Williams almost opening the scoring – but his shot deflected the wrong side of the post.

The Diamonds played some free-flowing football on 29 minutes, but the attack ended with a cross sailing over the head of Jack Smith at the back post.

Airdrie were denied a penalty in the 33rd minute, when Dylan Williams was clipped from behind whilst he held off a defender in the box, but the referee didn’t see enough contact to point to the spot.

The Diamonds took a deserved lead 36 minutes in, when the Williams twins combined well before Cole sent a fantastic ball through for Cooper, who calmly chopped back inside onto his right foot and smashed the ball into the net with conviction.

Dundee hit back quickly against the run of play, after the Diamonds were caught out by a long ball being flicked on, before it was eventually finished beyond Melrose from inside the box.

Cade Melrose stopped the hosts from taking a lead into the break two minutes before half time, when he clawed a header off the line when it looked destined to nestle in the back of the net.

Dylan Williams intelligently set Cole Williams up to have a dig 44 minutes in, but the midfielder’s shot was swatted away by a strong hand from the Dundee goalkeeper.

Hamilton’s eagerness to win the ball back earned him a yellow card on the stroke of half time, when he flew through the side of a Dundee midfielder a split second after he had played the ball away.

Airdrie started the second half strongly, Xavier-Jones having a go in a busy penalty box, but the goalkeeper managed to save and then dive at the feet of Cooper who was racing in to tap in the rebound. The goalkeeper then required treatment for a facial injury following the collision.

The Diamonds won possession in a promising area on 55 minutes, but Dylan Williams’ through ball was well intercepted as he looked to set up Cooper for another goal.

Tate Xavier-Jones sharply turned a defender shortly after, but ended up having to settle from a corner as he raced into the box.

Melrose was called into action for the first time in the second half after the hour mark, as he comfortably caught a glancing header which was on target.

Cammy Cooper continued to get joy in behind, this time opting to cut the ball back where it fell for Walczak, who couldn’t keep his shot down 62 minutes in.

Goal scorer Cooper was taken off by Alan Gow with just under half an hour to play, along with Xavier-Jones and Euan Hamilton. They were replaced by Adam Smith, McQueen and Iserhienrhien.

Dundee formed a rare attack on 65 minutes, but the final shot drifted wide of the target from the edge of the box.


A Dylan Williams free kick brushed the top of the net on its way over in the 69th minute.

Adam Aird tried to release his namesake Adam Smith with 20 minutes to go, but the goalkeeper was first to the ball.

Smith was then the next Airdrie player to be denied a penalty after he went down under a challenge on the byline after beating a defender, but despite his claims the referee booked the attacker for diving.

Iserhienrhien took advantage of his pace to get beyond the Dundee back-line, but his ball across the face of goal was hooked clear.

Cade Melrose saved the blushed of Cole Williams in the 77th minute, after the midfielder had sold his goalkeeper short with a pass which led to an effort at goal from Dundee.

Dylan Williams had a go from distance a minute later, but the goalkeeper got his body behind the ball to stop it on his path.

Aird and Walczak’s afternoons ended with just over ten minutes remaining, with Sunday’s goal scorers Burchill and Harris coming on in a final roll of the dice from Gow.

Harris lost possession three minutes after coming on, eventually leading to an effort off target from Dundee.

Despite Airdrie’s domination, it was the home side who took the lead with five minutes on the clock – a ball over the top drawing Melrose off his line, but Airdrie’s goalkeeper was beaten to the ball and lobbed from the edge of the box.

Divine Iserhienrhien had a golden chance to equalise after a gift from the goalkeeper saw him gain possession with the Dundee squad up the park, but the Diamonds winger took a poor touch before scuffing his shot wide as he attempted to lob the Dee goalkeeper.

Chisholm was forced to put the ball out of play as Dundee launched a counterattack with Airdrie pushing for a late goal.

All three points would be sealed by Dundee in the fifth minute of injury time, Melrose once again beaten by a tidy finish into the bottom corner.

The referee blew his whistle soon after, putting an end to a highly competitive match – but one the Diamonds felt hard done by to leave empty handed.

Next up for Airdrie’s under 19s is most likely a Friday night friendly, and the Diamonds will look to right the wrongs of their defeat on the East Coast ahead of a soon-to-come Scottish cup tie in Edinburgh.

Airdrieonians: Melrose, J.Smith, Walczak (Harris 79), Chisholm, Aird (Burchill 79), Hamilton (McQueen 62), C.Williams, Cooper (Iserhienrhien 62), D.Williams, Xavier-Jones (A.Smith 62)