It was new faces galore in the derby match with Albion Rovers with a total of 11 summer signings in the starting line ups.

After just 6 minutes, Airdrie showed great pace down the right wing when Scott Gray powered towards the goal line before firing a terrific ball across goal and Liam Watt dived to head home for the opening goal, giving keeper Neil Parry no chance.

It took Rovers 20 minutes for a first shot on target although John Gemmell’s free kick was deflected for a corner.

On the half hour Joe Hamill put Watt in behind the Rovers back line but Parry was out to block. In 32 minutes a cross from Jim Lister fell to Keigan Parker and his shot was blocked on the line by Michael Dunlop.

Rovers stunned the home side 6 minutes from the interval when a cross from Mark McKenzie was struck first time by Ally Love. It was a goal that hadn’t looked like coming but it was honours even by the break.

A head knock to Andy McNeil saw the trialist keeper Lucas Birnstingl start the second half.

In 57 minutes Parker turned his marker and raced into the box, but curled his effort wide

In 63 minutes Nathan Blockley dived headlong to meet Gray’s cross and Parry, who had to backpedal, almost pulled off a wonder save but Blockley picked himself up to dive and head the ball into the net.

Watt went close to scoring a third from Paddy Boyle’s pass in 71 minutes. 5 minutes remained when Pollock drilled the ball low from 20 yards that the sub keeper took comfortably.

With three minutes remaining, the big keeper miskicked a ball played back and lone striker Gemmell reacted quickly to overhead kick the ball into the net from an angle and send the tie into extra time.

Parry made decent saves from a Blockley shot and a Lister header while Phillips had the final real effort of the match, well taken by the keeper.

The shoot-out saw Fitpatrick and Bain’ efforts saved while Gemmell and Pollock found the net.

Paddy Boyle and Parker also scored their penalties but it was matched by Rovers' Phillips and player/manager Darren Young to put the visitors through to the second round.