Premiership side Dundee ultimately triumphed in the Premier Sports Cup opener, but there were positives for Airdrie including a surefire goal-of-the-season contender from Sam Fisher.

The new-look Diamonds, playing competitively under head coach John Rankin for the first time, twice took the lead against their top-flight opponents, but eventually went down to some top-class finishing.

There were debuts for summer signings Jamie Sneddon, Sam Fisher, Ewan Simpson, Dapo Mebude, Matty Yates, Evan Easton and Henry James while midfielder Gavin Gallagher made his 100th Airdrie appearance.

Former Airdrie loanee Charlie Reilly lined up for Steven Pressley’s side, who were keen to avoid a repeat of the opening day defeat the Diamonds inflicted on them last season.

The Dark Blues’ plans almost unraveled straight from kick-off as the ball fell to Yates just inside the penalty box. The former Stenhousemuir striker got his shot away, but a recovering block took it wide of the target.

Airdrie trialist Kian Taylor got on the end of a third-minute pass, beating Harrison Sharp from a tight angle but unable to steer his effort inside the far post.

Dundee striker Joe Bevan struck the outside of the post with a driven effort a minute later, the former Albion Rovers man beginning what would be an excellent performance.

Bevan and Drey Wright were at the heart of the attacking pressure which followed, drawing two good blocks from Fisher.

Airdrie’s ex-Dundee man was effective in attack as well as defence, a raking diagonal pass finding Mebude on eight minutes, with James’s cross well cleared before a similar ball from Robbie Mahon needed a Sharp touch to take it away from the incoming Airdrie attack.

Mahon took the resultant corner, and Craig Ross’s determination to win the ball led to Airdrie’s opener. The Diamonds skipper’s header landed for Taylor, who slammed a shot against the post and into the net via Sharp’s touch.

Dundee hit back with Bevan once again leading the attack, but Sneddon and Easton kept the home side at bay before James stopped the striker at the near post.

Ash Hay headed wide before Sneddon denied Wright and then Hamilton just before the half-hour mark.

Dundee did get their equaliser on 31 minutes, Reilly taking possession 25 yards from goal and curling a lovely strike into the top corner.

Bevan couldn’t beat Sneddon three minutes later, and Ryan Finnigan curled wide as the hosts tried to edge in front.

Yates’s 44th-minute header drifted wide just out of reach of Mahon, but a minute later the Diamonds had a free-kick just inside the Dundee half. Spotting Sharp off his line, Fisher launched a perfectly weighted effort over the keeper and into the net to spark wild celebrations among the Airdrie players and bench.

Dundee came out all-guns-blazing in the second half, Callum Jones firing over on 47 minute before Hay sent a chipped effort wide a minute later.

Sharp denied Mahon after a fine Yates pass had left the Irishman one-on-one, and Dundee renewed their attempts to level the tie, Idris Odutayo missing an easy chance before Hamilton went close from outside the box.

There was no denying the former Manchester United youngster a minute later when a similar effort found the target and sailed beyond Sneddon to make it 2-2.

The Airdrie keeper tipped Bevan’s drive over the bar a minute after the restart, with Taylor once again beating Sharp but not the post at the other end.

As the game moved into the final quarter Dundee took the lead for the first time, Bevan getting the goal his all-round play deserved with a low angled strike from the corner of the box.

Ryan Astley headed a 77th-minute corner over the bar, but three minutes later another inswinging delivery was met by Hay, who did manage to force the ball home from close range.

Late changes saw some game-time for Airdrie’s young substitutes, including a senior debut for academy graduate Szymon Walczak.

It was another positive for the Diamonds, who will remain upbeat about the season ahead despite leaving Dens with nothing to show for their efforts.

Clyde are next up for John Rankin’s side, who face the Bully Wee in Hamilton on Tuesday evening.