Airdrie and Morton played out their second 2-2 draw of the season, with the Diamonds left frustrated that they twice let the lead slip.

There were three changes to the side that exited the Scottish Cup at the hands of Dundee last weekend, Cammy Bruce, Craig Watson and Lewis McGrattan making way for Mason Hancock, Alex Bannon and Rhys Armstrong. Ex-Diamonds Cammy Ballantyne and Arron Lyall started for the hosts.

After Ryan Mullen had claimed an early Hancock cross, Ben Wilson picked up where he had left off against Morton, opening the scoring after just six minutes.

Ironically there was more than a touch of luck about the Northern Irishman’s 13th goal of the season, two attempted clearances ricocheting back off the striker and leaving him one-on-one with Mullen before he calmly sidefooted past the keeper.

Three minutes later Wilson had a golden opportunity to put the Diamonds two ahead, but his close range header went wide of the post.

Lyall’s cross was easy for Kieran Wright after referee Ryan Lee had played a good advantage on 13 minutes, and Wilson saw a flicked attempt knocked behind for a corner ten minutes later.

Dylan MacDonald saw a 24th-minute strike blocked, but a minute later Nathan Shaw had his side on level terms.

Michael Garrity’s cross from the left was chested down by Filip Stuparević, and former Inverness man Shaw rifled home from the edge of the box leaving Wright with no chance.

Adam Frizzell almost had his side back in front three minutes later, haring away on the counter and sending in an audacious lob which a backpedalling Mullen did very well to tip over. In hindsight a square pass to Wilson may have been on for Frizzell, but it took a fine save to deny the Diamonds skipper a spectacular goal.

Wilson saw a header blocked on 29 minutes as Airdrie continued to press, and a Chris Mochrie effort a moment later lacked the power to trouble Grant Gillespie, who had time to control and clear on the goal-line.

Cammy Ballantyne came close to repeating his goal against Airdrie in the last Cappielow meeting, a fizzing effort going just past the post on 32 minutes.

A scrappy end to the first half ended with half chances for Wilson and Stuparević, but neither were able to find the target and the sides went in level at the break.

A strong start to the second half saw Airdrie create a number of good chances, Armstrong seeing his low cross blocked behind after good play in the 46th-minute by MacDonald.

Debutant Bannon tried his luck a minute later, but his 25-yard effort was wide of the top corner, and Mullen was able to save Wilson’s 48th-minute effort after lovely feet from Gavin Gallagher.

A flying block from Ballantyne denied Frizzell as Airdrie continued to push, and as Morton hit back Stuparević was unlucky to curl wide after dogged play from Shaw.

Home fans thought Garrity had given their side a 57th-minute lead as the Ton countered at pace, but the midfielder could only find the side netting from an acute angle.

Wright and MacDonald combined to deny Tomi Adeloye a debut goal after the recent signing had come off the substitutes bench, and MacDonald saw his strike deflected over at the other end.

Airdrie’s own substitutions paid off as the Diamonds went back in front on 68 minutes, Frizzell nutmegging Delaney and standing the ball up for Ricco Diack to head home his first Airdrie goal.

The visitors’ lead lasted only a minute, Lyall’s corner finding the head of Jack Baird who beat Wright to the ball and nodded home.

Adeloye headed with the scores level once again, and Bannon was in action at either end, seeing a 76th-minute effort blocked by a defensive head before showing good composure to break up a couple of Morton attacks.

A bad-tempered end to the match saw a number of yellow cards dished out, but there was no further scoring and the points were shared.