Airdrie debuted their new third kit on Saturday, but it was Monklands neighbours Albion Rovers who were left black and blue as the Diamonds grabbed seven goals in a dominant pre-season display.

While Diamonds fans began to see a settled side taking shape with just one trialist named in the matchday squad, the Rovers line-up were listed entirely as trialists – albeit with some signed players named as such while they await registration confirmation.

While Aidan Wilson, Cammy Bruce, Lewis Strapp, Rhys McCabe, Dean McMaster and Aaron Reid continue working toward their return from treatment, there were starts for summers signings Sean McGinty, Euan Henderson, Craig Ross, Jamie Barjonas and Alex King.

The first chance of the match fell to Chris Mochrie, who lofted his volley over the bar before Cade Melrose saw a long-range effort from one of the 20 Rovers trialists go past his far post.

The Coatbridge side’s goalkeeper did well to keep out a ninth-minute Lewis McGrattan strike which bobbled just in front of him, but there was no denying the midfielder three minutes later.

A good Mochrie run down the left fed Barjonas, who beat the keeper to the ball and squared for McGrattan to squeeze home at the near post despite the best attempts of a visiting defender.

Trialist 9 looked set to unleash a 14th-minute effort for the Coatbridge men, but McGinty’s tackle averted the danger before a series of blocks kept out Airdrie’s second on 16 minutes, McGinty, Dylan MacDonald and Gavin Gallagher all denied in a goalmouth scramble.

A slight deflection robbed McGrattan of a second after good work by Barjonas and MacDonald in the 18th minutes, with Trialist 16 then missing the target before Melrose was alert to a decent strike by Trialist 6.

Some electric pace from Euan Henderson teed up his former Hamilton team-mate Barjonas midway through the half, but last weekend’s goalscorer lifted his effort too high on this occasion.

Airdrie’s second came two minutes later, an inch-perfect corner-kick delivery from King leaving the towering figure of McGinty with the simplest of tasks to nod home from five yards.

Mochrie and Gallagher passed up chances for the Diamonds as their grip on the game became total, with the Rovers goalkeeper denying McGinty a second before fellow centre-back Ross popped up with the Diamonds’ third.

A 39th-minute corner wasn’t properly cleared by the visitors, another fine setpiece delivery hooked home by the former Stranraer defender.

McGrattan saw another powerful effort saved before Henderson sent a 44th-minute shot over the top, and the Diamonds took their 3-0 lead into the interval.

Midfielder McGrattan sported the captain’s armband in the second half as Airdrie’s trialist replaced McGinty, and there was no let-up for the visitors as the Diamonds got back on the goal-trail.

Henderson had already seen an effort chalked off due to a tight offside decision when Mochrie added Airdrie’s fourth just before the hour mark, the lively forward showing good strength and footwork to advance through the defensive line before stroking a measured finish beyond the goalkeeper.

As both sides rang the changes, King saw a stinging strike well saved on 64 minutes.

Dylan Williams was among the first Airdrie substitutes, and the long-haired midfielder caused problems immediately as he buzzed around the final third, a 69th-minute cross taking a lucky deflection into the arms of the keeper.

Liam McStravick joined the action on 72 minutes, and his first touch saw him take a Cole Williams pass before driving forward and sliding in fellow substitute Cammy Cooper, who cut inside and curled in a confident finish for Airdrie’s fifth.

MacDonald was now occupying the left-back berth for Airdrie, and the defender popped up in the penalty box to make it six on 76 minutes. Quick thinking from Dylan Williams saw a corner-kick played to McGrattan, who laid off MacDonald to take a rare left-footed effort first-time, leaving the keeper helpless.

Cooper showed good instincts to round off the scoring in the 84th minute, reacting fastest to turn home after Dylan Williams had been denied by a good save for the second time.

With a week to go until the competitive action begins with a Premier Sports Cup trip to Dundee, Airdrie now face a similar test with Tuesday’s visit of St Mirren.

We wish Sandy Clark and his Albion Rovers side the best of luck with their upcoming Lowland League campaign.