With both Airdrie and Stenhousemuir going out of the Petrofac Training Cup in their season opening match, the two sides faced up to a repeat of last season, a First Round clash in the League Cup at Airdrie.

The tie was no classic, unlike a year ago, and two goals in the opening 20 minutes provided a platform for the visitors that never really came under threat.

With 8 minutes played Josh Watt’s corner was headed on by Grehan and a static home defence afforded Lithgow time and space inside the six yard box, to send the ball into the net.

With quarter of an hour gone Paddy Boyle latched on to a loose ball inside the box but did not make good contact and his shot was blocked.

5 minutes later with little apparent threat, Sludden was quickest to react to a ball that made it’s way across the 18 yard line and he was quick to control the ball, get sight of goal and fire the ball past Andy McNeil courtesy of a deflection.

Liam Watt’s fine cross from the left, on the hour found Jim Lister in space but his header sent the ball wide of the target.

Nathan Blockley’ s angled volley on 41 minutes was Airdrie’s first effort on target.

As the match wore on chances around the goal were far and few between.

On 90 minutes, Airdrie did score and the two substitutes combined with Scott Gray showing a fine turn of pace down the right, before driving the ball across the six yard line and Jack Kirwan bulleted the ball into the net for his first goal for the Diamonds.

Any belated hopes of squaring the tie ended immediately after when David Proctor’s attempt to head the ball back to his keeper was woefully short and as McNeil came out to clear, he was beaten to the ball by McMenamin who was able to pass the ball into the open goal and kill the tie.

The sides meet again next week in the SPFL League One opener.