Airdrie scored three fine goals to secure victory over Annan Athletic in the first competitive fixture of the season at the Albert Bartlett.

Both sides came into the match having suffered back-to-back defeats in their Premier Sports Cup openers, but it was the Diamonds who sparkled in front of goal on a sunny Lanarkshire afternoon.

Jamie Sneddon, Evan Easton, Adam Devine and Kian Taylor returned to the starting line-up after Tuesday’s loss away to Clyde, Ruairidh Adams and Robbie Mahon dropping to the bench while Zac Butterworth and Dapo Mebude missed out through injury.

Annan player-boss Willie Gibson named himself in his starting XI alongside ex-Diamond Cammy Cooper, while another familiar face, Ally Roy, was among the substitutes.

The first incident of note was a booking for Diamonds captain Craig Ross after what looked to be a good challenge to stop a seventh-minute attack.

Four minutes later goalkeeper Charlie Albinson was grateful that no Airdrie players were close enough to react as he spilled an AJ Bridge strike.

The former Ayr United and Hamilton goalkeeper was in action again on 13 minutes, but Matty Yates’ strike from the edge of the box was a comfortable enough take for the Englishman.

Yates saw a 17th-minute strike blocked after a perfectly weighted Easton pass released the striker, and the visitors came to life three minutes later, a vicious strike from outside the box gathered by Sneddon at the second attempt.

Aidan Smith found Paul Smith with a nice flicked header midway through the half, but the Annan attacker could only find the side netting.

Devine was getting joy in the right wing-back role, setting up Gavin Gallagher for a square pass which was well defended on 26 minutes before making a similar run himself and choosing to pass when a shot looked open.

Sam Fisher lashed over after Albinson had failed to clear a 31st-minute corner, but it was Sneddon who was producing the heroics two minutes later as he got a fingertip to an excellent Josh Dixon strike.

Airdrie went in front six minutes before the break, Gallagher flicking the ball through to Devine, who again opted for the cutback, but this time found Kian Taylor who squeezed the ball home from 10 yards out.

Taylor almost added an assist to his goal on the stroke of half-time, but Gallagher was unable to connect with his low cross.

The former Morton midfielder caught the eye again five minutes after the restart, breaking out of defence after a Gibson free-kick and haring up the park to lift the ball over Albinson. Unfortunately for Taylor his final touch lacked the power to take it over the line and the visiting defence cleared.

Half-time substitute Robbie Mahon did well to react when Albinson got a touch to Fisher’s 53rd-minute cross, but the forward could only lift the ball over the top.

Bridge added Airdrie’s second 11 minutes later, finding Yates who in turn found Gallagher inside the box. Bridge had continued his run as his fellow midfielder laid it off, and applied a cultured finish to pass into the net from the 18-yard line.

After a scrappy spell of fouls and substitutions, Henry James made it three. The defender raced onto a fine Bridge ball over the top, took a touch, and finished left-footed over Albinson, who was caught in no-mans land.

The match petered out as both sides tinkered with personnel, the final whistle calling time on an entertaining match and a good win for the Diamonds.

Ross County come calling next Saturday as Airdrie complete their Group D fixtures ahead of the League 1 kick-off.