The Diamonds snatched a winner in stoppage time to earn all three points after a nine-goal thriller in the CAS Cup U19 group stage.

Sam Gibson returned between the sticks for the young Diamonds, meanwhile Divine Iserhienrhien led the line. Former Airdrie man Jordan Allan returned to the Albert Bartlett Stadium to feature for the Doonhamers.

The hosts kicked off the tie, but Queen of the South had the first couple of chances. In the fourth minute, a cross from the left flank found Kayden Reilly unmarked - but his shot skewed wide of the post.

In the seventh minute, Airdrie had their first opportunity on goal. A powerful curling effort from Ronald Nimyel, which was spilled by the Queens' shot-stopper, but gathered at the second attempt.

Iserhienrhien did brilliantly to create space in a tight area – cutting the ball back to Jacob Bonad. His first-time effort flew into the grasp of the goalkeeper.

With both sides having an array of chances, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when first-teamer Euan Ross was given acres of space at the edge of the box, and he slammed the ball into the top right corner past Gibson.

Despite being a goal down, Airdrie continued to pose a threat. Anthony Harris with an impressive pass picked out Jack Smith, who dinked a ball into the box which was headed wide by Iserhienrhien.

In the 26th minute, Nimyel weaved between defenders before he was fouled. He stepped up to take the resulting setpiece, and his effort appeared to have crossed the line before being clawed out by the Queens keeper Lawton Green. Harris was on hand to tap home to confirm Airdrie's equalising goal.

Only four minutes later, Szymon Walczak heroically threw himself in front of an Allan effort which was goalbound.

The first yellow of the game was brandished after Daniel Fyall pulled down Iserhienrhien as he raced through on goal.

35 minutes in, the Diamonds were inches away from a second. Lewis Burchill drove inside, before taking a shot - his attempt deflecting onto the post and out.

Alan Gow's side didn’t have to wait much longer for their second, a fantastic delivery from Nimyel nodded home by Deryn McConnell inside a crowded box on the cusp of half time.

The Doonhamers kicked off the second half and would level the game in the 51st minute. A long ball forward was latched onto by Kylan Hunter, who slotted the ball past Gibson.

McConnell continued to cause nightmares for the Dumfries side, as he found the net to give Airdrie the lead once again, his thumping volley from a Burchill cross finding the bottom corner as the big defender wheeled away in celebration.

A third goal in four minutes came shortly after. The Doonhamers made it three apiece with a well-placed free-kick from Ross for his second of the match.

Minutes later, McConnell almost grabbed a hat-trick, but his glancing header skewed off the post.

The Diamonds looked to the bench in the 66th minute as Adam Aird, Nimyel and Bonad made way for Michael McQueen, Dylan Baldwin and a return for Jamie White.

The substitutions would prove impactful, when Iserhienrhien was denied by a point blank save from the Queens keeper. McQueen was quickest to react to the rebound, slamming home only four minutes after coming on.

The Doonhamers once again levelled the score in the 77th minute. An error from the hosts in a dangerous area allowed Ross in for his hat-trick, zipping the ball into the bottom corner.

With five minutes left, the young Diamonds pushed for a winner, Burchill denied only by the crossbar with a thumping volley.

Airdrie fought till the end to grab all three points – and in the third minute of stoppage time, their valiant efforts were rewarded. This time substitute Baldwin found space in the box, firing into the back of the net from a tight angle.

The thrilling clash came to an end with Airdrie winning the game in dramatic fashion to open their cup campaign with a victory - sending the Doonhamers back down the road empty-handed.