There was late frustration for Airdrie as an 89th-minute Alloa goal saw the Diamonds exit the Premier Sports Cup by a single goal.

Following their midweek substitute appearances, captain Aidan Wilson and vice-captain Dean McMaster returned to the starting line-up in place of Craig Ross and Rhys Armstrong respectively.

Former Diamonds Steven Hetherington and Kurtis Roberts started for the Wasps, and there were further familiar faces among the coaching staff in Neil Parry and Graeme Holmes.

Alloa gave an early indication of how eventful the match would prove to be with Roberts attempting an audacious strike straight from kick-off, but Airdrie keeper Cade Melrose watched it all the way.

The Diamonds’ first attack came in the third minute, Chris Mochrie seeing his cutback blocked by Alloa captain Scott Taggart before Lewis McGrattan fired over as the ball came back in.

McGrattan and Mochrie combined again seven minutes later, and this time the former Dundee United man sent a powerful effort into the side netting from a tight angle.

Melrose held a 13th-minute Cameron O’Donnell free-kick, with Euan Henderson’s strike from outside the box deflected over the bar four minutes later.

Airdrie had the ball in the net on 18 minutes, Wilson rifling a Jamie Barjonas corner into the roof of the net, but the referee disallowed the goal for no apparent reason.

Liam McFarlane did well to block a 25th-minute McGrattan strike with his knees, while Calum Waters got across to block the Diamonds midfielder second attempted as the ball broke loose.

It seemed that a goal was coming for Airdrie, and Sean McGinty went even closer from the resultant corner, crashing a header against the junction of post and bar.

Alloa showed that they still posed a threat two minutes later, Luke Rankin drawing a smart reflex stop from Melrose as he stabbed goalward from close range.

Airdrie’s pressure was undone on 29 minutes as the visitors took the lead, a free-kick from the right only partially cleared and Owen Foster nodding home as the ball was returned.

The Diamonds had another goal disallowed five minutes after conceding, Mochrie poking home after McGrattan and Henderson had linked in the box. Replays showed that Henderson was indeed offside, but the home crowd were irate that the far-side linesman had raised his flag some ten seconds after initially signalling the goal.

The first half fizzled out with a succession of fouls on Henderson going unpunished, and the officials left the pitch in no doubt as to the Diamonds fans’ feelings.

Five minutes after the restart Airdrie had the ball in the net for a third time, and this time the goal was deemed legitimate as a block on McGrattan’s pass teed up Wilson, who got the ball out his feet and sent a powerful strike over McFarlane and into the net.

Mochrie almost completed the turnaround straight from kick-off, bursting through one-on-one only to see McFarlane bundle his strike around the post.

Just after the hour mark the Diamonds had a penalty, Henderson’s pace taking him beyond Foster before going down as the pair tangled. The former Alloa loanee stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, calmly despatching beyond Foster.

Airdrie’s lead was short lived, as Andy Graham’s side were award a penalty of their own just two minutes later, Roberts coming off worst as he challenged McGinty for a pass. Taggart blasted home from the spot to make it two apiece.

Substitute Gavin Gallagher saw the defence open up in front of him on 68 minutes, but the midfielder pulled his shot well wide of the target.

Alex King went close with a free-kick a minute later, but McFarlane pulled off an impressive save.

The next chance fell the was of O’Donnell, but his 25-yard effort hit Alloa sub Kalvin Orsi and skewed wide.

As the clock ticked down, it looked like the draw would be enough to see both teams safely through, but there was little chance of either side settling for parity.

King joined the Airdrie attack again on 85 minutes, but his shot was high and wide.

The sucker-punch came with a minute remaining, a communication breakdown between McGinty and Dylan Williams allowing Steven Buchanan to intercept and bear down on goal. The midfielder still had plenty to do, but did it with aplomb as he found space for a shot and sent a fine finish beyond Melrose.

Results elsewhere meant that the Diamonds will not finish as one of the best three runners-up, and their participation in the Premier Sports Cup ends at the group stage for the first time in three years.

Attention now turns to the William Hill Championship, with newly-relegated Ross County visiting the Albert Bartlett for next weekend’s curtain-raiser.