Former Diamond Kyle Connell grabbed the only goal of the game as Clyde beat the Diamonds in Tuesday’s Premier Sports Cup tie.

Airdrie were punished by a sweeping second-half counter-attack as they slipped to a second defeat in Group D, all but ruling out their chance of progression to the knockout stages.

There were three changes from the side that lost to Dundee on Saturday, Ruairidh Adams taking over from Jamie Sneddon in goal, while Zac Butterworth featured at right-back and AJ Bridge came in for his first start. Evan Easton and Kian Taylor were the players to drop to the bench, though the former watched from the stand after suffering illness.

The first chance of the match fell the way of Gavin Gallagher, who saw a second-minute effort dealt with by Jay Hogarth.

The hosts hit back through ex-Queen’s Park striker Timam Scott, whose angled-strike was deflected wide a minute later.

Robbie Mahon’s first time effort was held by Hogarth after Matty Yates had improvised a flick-on to the Airdrie wide man, and Bridge got back to avert a quick counter as chances continued to be shared between the sides.

Dapo Mebude was proving a good outball for Sam Fisher’s long passes, but the home side quickly doubled-up on the Diamonds summer signing.

Ewan Simpson saw off a 13th-minute attack by the lively Scott Williamson, and Adams had his first taste of the action when he got down sharply to a powerful angled effort four minutes later.

Yates spun onto a ball in the box midway through the half, sending his strike over the bar before getting into a good position again only to see his header from Butterworth’s cross held by Hogarth.

Henry James saw a shot blocked by a defender after a substitution from the Diamonds, Divine Iserhienrhien replacing the injured Mebude.

Adams denied Scott at the near post on 34 minutes, with Gallagher sending a strike over the bar as the end-to-end battle continues.

Mahon and Yates both sent efforts wide as Airdrie tried to take control, with Iserhienrhien lifting a shot over the top at full stretch before Scott was again denied by Adams at the near post.

Opposite number Hogarth had the last say of the opening period, racing out to beat Iserhienrhien to Yates’s flick-on after Adams had launched an attack.

Airdrie made another enforced change at the break, Szymon Walczak replacing Butterworth who had also pulled up following a forward run.

Scott continued to cause problems, seeing a 48th-minute shot blocked before Adams once again came out on top a minute later.

Hogarth got behind a 57th-minute Craig Ross header and pushed away a good Gallagher strike before producing the save of the night as he kept out Bridge’s 64th-minute free-kick.

A minute later Darren Young’s men were in front, a quick three-man break leaving Connell in space on the right flank. The one-time Diamonds loanee delivered a precise finish, his low strike beating Adams and nestling in the net.

Clyde were able to defend deeper to protect their lead, and some important defensive headers averted the danger as Bridge and Airdrie sub Taylor swung crosses into the danger area.

Some good footwork by the former Morton midfielder went unrewarded on 79 minutes as Hogarth smothered the square pass, and the Clyde keeper was the hero again with five minutes to play as he spread himself to block Iserhienrhien’s shot after the Airdrie striker had intercepted a headed passback.

A scrappy ending to the match followed, but a gilt-edged opportunity arose in stoppage-time only for Taylor to get underneath his shot and clear the bar by a distance.

Work to be done for the Diamonds, who welcome Annan Athletic to the Albert Bartlett Stadium on Saturday.