The Diamonds got their pre-season off to a flier with a thumping win over Lowland League side Gala.

 

Scott Robertson, Jonathan Page, Grant Gallagher, Kieran Millar and Joao Victoria all appeared in an Airdrie shirt for the first time, while Scott Gallacher, Sean Crighton and Darryl Duffy made their returns after previous spells with the Diamonds.

 

An impressive winning margin could and perhaps should have been even bigger, as Stevie Findlay’s men dominated the borderers from start to finish, missing some good chances before finally breaking the deadlock midway through the first half.

 

Duffy and Victoria showed early signs of a strong understanding, combining to pass through the defence with both strikers shooting wide on separate occasions.

 

Scott Stewart also went close after being set up by a similar move, but the wide man turned provider on 27 minutes, his low cross from the right allowing Victoria to turn the ball home first time.

 

11 minutes later strike partner Duffy doubled the Diamonds’ advantage, nodding home decisively from Ryan Conroy’s corner kick.

 

And Stewart got on the scoresheet himself three minutes before half-time, cutting in to the corner of the box before curling home a lovely shot with the outside of his boot.

 

Over half-time and the second half, the visiting side took on a more youthful look as some of the younger faces from the bench replaced their more experienced counterparts.

 

There was no let-up for Gala though, and Darryl Duffy made it four on 54 minutes, this time getting on the end of Chris O’Neil’s centre to sidefoot home from close range.

 

Substitute Cammy Russell got his side’s fifth on 67 minute, taking a touch in the box before making no mistake with a powerful finish.

 

And fellow substitutes Scott Thomson and Craig Truesdale got in on the action too as the clock ticked down.

 

Thomson, who had already gone close twice since joining the play on 69 minutes, kept his cool to chip the ball over the onrushing Gala goalkeeper after doing well to remain onside.

 

With minutes remaining Truesdale applied the icing on the cake, blasting home from outside the area to make the final score 7-0 to the rampant Diamonds.

 

Airdrieonians

Gallacher (Hutton 46’), Robertson, MacDonald (Edwards 65’), Page (O’Neil 46’), Crighton, Gallagher (S.McIntosh 60’), Stewart (Truesdale 69’), Conroy (Cairns 46’), Duffy (Russell 60’), Millar (Trialist 46’), Victoria (Thomson 69’)