The Diamonds cruised into the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup with a convincing 2-0 win over Queen of the South, courtesy of goals from Ben Wilson and Terrell Agyemang.

Rhys McCabe made all of five changes to the Airdrie side which had fought valiantly at Pittodrie against Aberdeen in the previous matchday.

Kieran Wright replaced Murray Johnson between the sticks, while Cammy Bruce, Craig Watson, Terrell Agyemang and Chris Mochrie started in place of Dylan MacDonald, Rhys McCabe, Murray Aiken and Lewis McGregor respectively.

In contrast, Peter Murphy made only a singular alteration to the Doonhamers team which defeated East Kilbride 3-1 on Tuesday night, with goalkeeper Jay Hogarth replacing Ross Stewart.

A subdued first half began with the Diamonds controlling possession well but creating very few chances, whilst limiting their opposition to an equal lack of opportunities.

The first real goalscoring chance of the afternoon came for the visitors in the 33rd minute, when Wright was forced into a superb flying save to deny Kieran McKechnie at his near post following a deep Oscar MacIntyre cross.

Following the impressive stop, the Diamonds began to impose themselves on the match. Their reward came just before half-time, once again from the boot of Ben Wilson.

After an Adam Frizzell flick-on glanced the ball down the left wing, a superb curling Mason Hancock delivery was met by the in-form striker who touched home to notch his sixth goal in only four Airdrie games.

After finishing the first half in front, the home side began the second like they meant to go on, pressing high and largely containing Queen of the South within their own half.

It was soon Hogarth’s turn to produce some goalkeeping heroics, acrobatically diving to his right to deny a Dean McMaster piledriver from the edge of the box.

The Diamonds' pressure continued, and in the 63rd minute, they extended their lead.

Some intricate Airdrie play was started by a clever Bruce ball to Frizzell in the middle of the park, with Armstrong feeding Wilson to cut back for Agyemang inside the penalty area, and the Middlesbrough loanee smashed beyond the goalkeeper at his near post with ease.

With a comfortable two-goal cushion, Rhys McCabe made a quadruple substitution in the 70th minute, with Lewis McGrattan, Murray Aiken, Cammy Cooper and Gavin Gallagher all entering the field of play.

These substitutions saw the match settle down once more and eventually peter out, as Airdrie seemed content to maintain their 2-0 lead, which would comfortably see them into the

knockout stages of the Viaplay Cup for the second year running.

The Diamonds can now look forward to their first William Hill Championship match of the season next weekend at home to Raith Rovers, with another superb League Cup group stage showing under their belts.