Jamie Barjonas was Airdrie’s goalscorer as the Diamonds’ opening pre-season friendly ended in a narrow defeat to Cymru Premier side Penybont.

The Welsh side visited the Albert Bartlett Stadium as they prepare to take on FK Kauno Žalgiris of Lithuania in next month’s Europa Conference League qualifier, while for Rhys McCabe’s Airdrieonians it was first minutes in the legs of the players who returned to training last week.

Summer signings Craig Ross, Sean McGinty and Alex King started for the Diamonds, whose trialist goalkeeper had to be alert inside the first minute, but got down to smother a low cross.

Airdrie retaliated through Cammy Cooper, whose penalty appeals fell on deaf ears as he went down in a tangle of legs with Mark Little two minutes later.

Cooper, who spent the second half of last season on loan in Lithuania, then saw a cross palmed away by Penybont keeper Luke Armstrong after King had shuffled through the visiting defence.

Dylan MacDonald was getting forward well from his right-back berth, and was just pipped to ninth-minute Gavin Gallagher cross by Armstrong as Airdrie began to find some space.

The visitors hit back on 11 minutes, a volley in a crowded box well saved by the Airdrie goalkeeper, but three minutes later the Welshmen had the lead, Mael Davies firing a tidy finish across goal and into the back of the net.

Gabe Kircough blocked Chris Mochrie’s strike at the other end four minutes later, with the former Dundee United man beaten to King’s cross by Kai Ludvigsen just before the half-hour.

Lewis McGrattan headed over at the back post on 31 minutes, but Airdrie’s keeper was in action again two minutes later, doing well to punch away a curling free-kick from the corner of the box.

Penybont were awarded another setpiece in the same position with ten minutes of the first half remaining, and this time Kircough slammed home an impressive finish which left the keeper with no chance.

Airdrie ended the half looking sharp in possession, but Armstrong denied MacDonald with a decent save in the final minute of the first half before Kircough was booked for a bad tackle on the Diamonds defender.

The customary flurry of substitutions began eight minutes into the second half, Barjonas and Euan Henderson replacing Cooper and Liam McStravick for the Diamonds.

Airdrie’s keeper got down to block a low strike two minutes later, before the Diamonds substitutes combined down the left only for a well-timed challenge to nick possession from Henderson.

The Diamonds got their goal back on 59 minutes, and it was Barjonas who continued to make a good first impression, taking a square pass from Mochrie who had won possession from Ludvigsen, and steadying himself before rifling home.

A raft of changes interrupted play, but Airdrie continued to press for an equaliser with MacDonald and McGrattan having efforts blocked as the Diamonds began to stroke the ball about in the final third.

Armstrong held a curling Henderson effort on 66 minutes, with Airdrie sub Dylan Williams squeezing his shot just wide of the post after good work by an attacking trialist.

Adam Aird fed Barjonas just inside the box with ten minutes remaining, but this time the former Rangers youth sent his powerful effort over the bar.

Another Barjonas strike was blocked after combining with Henderson following Ross’s pass on 84 minutes, and Penybont’s substitute goalkeeper Ayrton Best did well to intercept an 88th-minute MacDonald cross.

Seconds later Nathan Wood went close before Best saved from Cole Williams, and the final whistle called time on a worthwhile exercise for both sides.

We wish our visitors Penybont all the best with their upcoming European campaign and the league season ahead as our attentions turn to the visit of local rivals Albion Rovers in a weeks time.