East Kilbride got their revenge for July’s heavy defeat, knocking holders Airdrie out of the SPFL Trust Trophy on penalty kicks despite Gavin Gallagher’s late equaliser for the Diamonds.

Manager Rhys McCabe made four changes to the side that drew with Dunfermline Athletic last weekend, Kieran Wright, Cammy Bruce, Rhys Armstrong and Ben Wilson replacing Murray Johnson, Mason Hancock, Lewis McGrattan and Aaron Reid.

With only four fit outfield subs available for the bench, the loss of Hancock and Reid is a further blow to a squad already decimated by injury.

Ex-Diamonds David Ferguson, Jordan McGregor and Jack Leitch lined up for the opposition, who took the game to Airdrie in the early stages.

Wright had to be alert to push out a second-minute John Robertson effort which was bound for the top corner as a hailstorm lashed the Albert Bartlett Stadium.

Leitch wasn’t far away with a low strike from outside the box a minute later, and Sam Graham cleared the danger when Robertson was played in by a smart sixth-minute dummy.

Airdrie’s first attack came on eight minutes, Bruce combining well with Adam Frizzell before the visitors hacked clear.

Wilson headed narrowly wide for the Diamonds after a defensive slip had allowed Frizzell to cross, with McGregor not far away with an ambitious lob midway through the first half.

Airdrie came closest to opening the scoring in the 28th minute, Dylan MacDonald joining the attack against his old side, and sending a header crashing off the post. Just as it seemed inevitable that Graham would despatch the loose ball, a well time tackle took the ball off the defender’s toe.

Airdrie’s miss was punished 11 minutes later, and it was former Diamond McGregor who found space in the box to tuck away Joaõ Baldé’s cutback after a free-kick wasn’t cleared.

The visitors took their lead into the break after a first half which bore very little resemblance to the Viaplay Cup tie five months ago.

Airdrie began the second half brighter, Wilson forcing a save from Matthew Connelly after he had made space to shoot from Murray Aiken’s pass, with Gallagher’s 50th-minute strike then clipping a defender and going over.

Wilson found good space again on 57 minutes, but sent his half-volley over the bar after good work by Craig Watson.

It was East Kilbride’s turn to hit the woodwork on the hour-mark, the lively Robertson sending a strike against the outside of the post, with Wright saving well from Baldé following a swift counter five minutes later.

Substitute Lewis McGrattan saw a 69th-minute shot charged down after cutting in from the left flank, and Wright was again alert to keep out Cameron Elliott’s effort on 74 minutes.

Wilson saw Cammy Cooper’s late cross touched out of his path, but with four minutes remaining the Diamonds got their equaliser.

Chris Mochrie fed Watson, who strode forward and played in McGrattan. The midfielder’s clever footwork left Baldé on the deck and allowed space to pick out Gavin Gallagher, who clipped a fantastic right-footed finish beyond Connelly and into the top corner.

Airdrie almost snatched victory two minutes later, Wilson bursting free of the defence and sending his strike past Connelly, but also past the post.

Penalty kicks followed the final whistle, with both sides despatching their first five to take the shoot-out to sudden death. Mochrie saw his kick saved by Connelly, and former Airdrie full-back David Ferguson stepped up to slam home the decisive spot-kick to see his side into the quarter-final.