The young Diamonds’ 350-mile round-trip to Fort George returned a deserved point against a strong Caley Thistle side.

Adam Smith was awarded a start in place of Deryn McConnell, but under 19s coach Gianniluca Gradini didn’t make any further changes to the side that narrowly lost out to the Bairns a few weeks ago.

The hosts started the match strongly, and Liam Prunty was fortunate not to be penalised for a challenge inside the box despite appearing to wipe out a Caley Thistle forward inside two minutes.

Two efforts off target followed from Inverness, before another attack was well thwarted by Mason Chisholm as Archie Kerr stormed in behind.

Caley Thistle didn’t let up, 11 minutes in they sent a whizzing free kick off the crossbar much to Prunty’s relief in goal as he remained rooted to his line.

Airdrie grew into the game after 15 minutes, Adam Smith slicing his shot wide after good passing play before Divine Iserhienrhien was narrowly beaten to the ball by Inverness goalkeeper Szymon Rebilas.

Neither side had any real chances for a large chunk of the first half, but solid defensive performances from Chisholm and Jack Smith kept the Diamonds’ clean sheet intact temporarily.

Lewis Burchill found some room to race forward with eight minutes of the half to play, but Adam Smith couldn’t do anything with his through ball and Caley Thistle cleared.

On 42 minutes, Airdrie managed to go ahead – top scorer Iserhienrhien latching onto an Adam Smith pass before sweeping the ball in off the post from the edge of the box.

At the start of the second half, Iserhienrhien looked sure to double Airdrie’s advantage, but somehow the home side’s stopper managed to block his shot from yards out after a fantastic ball from Dylan Williams looked to have set him up for a tap in.

Gradini made his first changes just shy of the hour mark, introducing Deryn McConnell and Szymon Walczak to the fray in place of Robbi O’Brien and Jack Smith.

The Diamonds were in behind in the 61st minute through Adam Smith, who was pulled back by a defender in a desperate bid to stop him from shooting. The Airdrie striker tried to stay on his feet, but couldn’t recover to get a shot away, and the referee turned a blind eye to the challenge.

66 minutes in, Caley Thistle fired home – substitute Cameron McAllister slotting in from close range after Archie Beaton had stormed down the left wing and fired across goal. Dylan Baldwin and Ronald Nimyel replaced Adam Smith and Anthony Harris following the equaliser.

Dylan Williams tried his luck with 20 minutes to go, and the goalkeeper’s parry landed at the head of Nimyel, who only directed the ball back into Rebilas’ arms.

Burchill made way for Jacob Bonad as Airdrie looked to find a winner, but Beaton continued to cause Airdrie problems – weaving in and out and cutting the ball back where it was scooped over the bar from just yards out.

Bonad almost made an impact with seven minutes to play, but his curling delivery was nodded wide by Iserhienrhien at the back post.

On 86 minutes, Nimyel received the ball on the right-hand side and turned inside, but his curler sailed past the post.

Prunty was forced into action in stoppage time, and he stood up to a good effort after a Caley counterattack after Airdrie had committed men forward.

There would be no late winner for either side in the end, and Airdrie were held to their first draw of the season in the Highlands – a point probably a fair outcome in the end.

The Diamonds face a trip along the M8 on Sunday with an away tie against Musselburgh Athletic in the SFA Youth Cup.