Airdrie battled back from two down for the second time this week – but on this occasion the Diamonds found a winner to beat Hearts B and march into the seeded pot for Thursday’s KDM knockout draw.

It was all change for head coach John Rankin, who rotated his entire starting XI after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at East Kilbride. New signing Tom Pickford received clearance in time to take a place on the bench.

The young Jambos added their youth internationals who missed the 14-0 reversal at Ross County a fortnight ago, and handed a debut to Aron Benjaminsen – a Faroe Islands senior international.

Reghan Tumilty, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Cole McKinnon and Craig Ross, sent a wayward strike over the top on three minutes after Cole Williams and Adam Devine had combined down the right.

Ruairidh Adams almost played himself into trouble ten minutes later, his pass out intercepted by Benjaminsen, but the keeper saved bravely at the feet of the Hearts man to make up for his error.

Swiss youngster Leart Kabashi had a go from just outside the box on 14 minutes, but it was a routine stop for Adams.

Airdrie hit back through Kian Taylor, whose lofted pass left Divine Iserhienrhien in a footrace with Hearts keeper Jack Lyon, who dashed out of his box to head clear.

The visitors took the lead on 18 minutes, Benjaminsen taking a pass on the right and advancing to the corner of the box before cutting inside and unleashing an excellent finish which went in off the far post, sparking an acrobatic somersault celebration from the Faroese debutant.

Lyon blocked a near-post effort from Iserhienrhien two minutes later, but it was the Tynecastle youngsters who doubled their lead on 23 minutes.

Another powerful Benjaminsen run ended in a foul outside the box, and the 18-year-old winger picked himself up to squeeze the free-kick through the wall and beyond Adams at the near post.

It was all that Hearts deserved after an impressive start, and they should have added a third when Jaedon Donkor crossed just after the half hour mark, but Tommy North was unable to make the close-range header.

Tumilty saw a 33rd-minute cross cut out with Iserhienrhien waiting to pounce, and the Diamonds striker was denied by a good defensive block two minutes later.

Robbie Mahon screwed a shot wide four minutes before the break, but with a minute of the half remaining Airdrie did get one back, and it was lovely first Airdrie strike for Tumilty.

Taking Devine’s throw and playing a quick one-two with Taylor, the skipper sent in a 25-yard shot which Lyon could only help into the net.

Tumilty could have equalised in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range header landed on top of the net and the Diamonds took their single-goal deficit into the break.

It only took 30 seconds for parity to be restored after the restart, and again Tumilty was involved, catching out the visiting defence with a quick throw-in to Taylor, who squared for Iserhienrhien to calmly slot home his third goal of the season.

Taylor tested Lyon with a 49th-minute strike which the keeper did well to block with his legs, and Evan Easton saw off the challenge of Hearts sub Connor Dow as the Diamonds showed greater determination at both ends of the pitch.

Mahon, Tumilty and Williams went close as Airdrie continued to turn the screw with an hour on the clock, and Lyon was grateful to his defenders who hacked clear after the keeper had fumbled a 61st-minute Iserhienrhien shot.

Pickford had a golden opportunity minutes after coming on for his debut proper, racing through one-on-one with Lyon but scuffing his strike wide when the net looked certain to bulge.

Benjaminsen got the chance to remind the home defence of his prowess with a 69th-minute free-kick, and although he hit the target again, Adams made a good save.

Pickford teed up Iserhienrhien for a shot which was well blocked before Taylor volleyed over the bar on 72 minutes.

The English midfielder drew a good stop from Lyon six minutes later after getting on the end of Pickford’s cutback.

Airdrie got the winner in simple fashion with just over ten minutes remaining, Kwame Boateng rising highest in the box to head home Mahon’s corner and grab his first Diamonds goal.

North and Kabashi missed the target in the closing stages, with blocks denying Iserhienrhien and Williams as the clock ticked down.

There was time for a couple of stoppage-time bookings before referee Connor Ashwood blew the final whistle, handing the Diamonds a third-placed finish in the 40-strong group phase table.

The draw for the round of 32 takes place at 1:00pm tomorrow, and as a seeded team Airdrie will avoid Championship opposition as the competition moves into the knockout phase.