The Diamonds fell to defeat in the first game of the new year after a seven-goal thriller against the Jags under the lights.

Cole Williams captained the side once again, with Mason Chisholm nearing a return from injury. Jack Smith started in defence fresh from his first team debut, meanwhile U17 talents Guy Bainbridge, Stephen McKay and Kayden Reid were named among the substitutes.

Alan Gow’s side didn’t start the game particularly well, conceding in the fourth minute after being caught short in defence following an Airdrie corner – and Liam Prunty’s strong hand wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of his goal.

More Thistle attacks followed in the next five minutes, with the Jags striking the woodwork from a setpiece before shanking another effort well over the bar.

Cole Williams latched onto a good pass from Ronald Nimyel, but his effort was tame and didn’t trouble Connor Storey in the Thistle goal.

Prunty made two sharp saves in the 20th minute, parrying behind for a corner before clawing the ball to safety from the resulting delivery.

The Diamonds bought themselves a golden opportunity when Divine Iserhienrhien tumbled to the floor after contact from a defender inside the box – and the referee pointed to the spot on 25 minutes. Dylan Williams stepped up to dispatch from 12 yards, with his fifth goal of the season.

The Diamonds’ lead lasted a mere two minutes, as a Jags midfielder swept into the corner of the net after a cutback wasn’t defended well enough in the box.

Two quickfire strikes from Nimyel and Cole Williams sailed over the bar with just under ten minutes until half time.

Nimyel didn’t make the same mistake twice, latching onto a loose ball and dancing between defenders before lashing into the net for Airdrie’s second equaliser in the 43rd minute.

Yet again, the Diamonds handed Thistle the lead instantly – as the Jags attacked from kick-off and found space to slot under Prunty from the left side of the box.

Airdrie started the second half brightly. Iserhienrhien was flagged offside after tapping home inside the opening minute, before Dylan Williams stroked just past the post from distance a minute later.

Iserhienrhien found himself through on goal in the 50th minute, but he couldn’t beat Storey who saved with his foot in the face of danger.

Cole Williams was millimetres away from scoring a screamer seconds later, when his dipping effort slammed against the post from 25 yards with the goalkeeper rooted to his line.

Just ahead of the hour-mark, Adam Aird and Dylan Baldwin replaced Anthony Harris and Lewis Burchill. Aird’s first involvement was to send a deflected effort into Storey’s grasp.

Prunty came to Airdrie’s rescue in the 61st minute, reacting brilliantly to parry a shot from inside his six-yard box.

Airdrie’s goalkeeper couldn’t replicate his heroics five minutes later, as Thistle capitalised on a poor pass and Thistle slotted home to give the Jags a two-goal advantage.

McKay and Bainbridge were called upon along with Jacob Bonad on 73 minutes, replacing Jack Smith, Iserhienrhien and Airdrie’s second scorer, Nimyel.

Airdrie found the net for a third time with ten to play, when Cole Williams read a pass from the goalkeeper before passing into the net and rushing the ball back to the centre-circle.

The Diamonds’ final chance fell to Dylan Williams in stoppage time, but Storey saved his lobbed effort comfortably.

Another defeat leaves Airdrie’s U19s in the bottom half of the league, with a CAS Cup tie against Queen of the South to come on Wednesday night at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.