TNS 1 Airdrie 2: Diamonds deliver first trophy in 16 years in pulsating SPFL Trust Trophy final triumph

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Airdrie ended a 16-year wait for silverware after coming from behind to sink Welsh Premier champions The New Saints in the SPFL Trust Trophy Final.The Diamonds trailed to a Ben Clark strike inside the opening 12 minutes, but a stunning strike from former Linfield winger Liam McStravick 10 minutes later pulled Airdrie level before a Nikolay Todorov penalty in 67 minutes secured the cup - and ended TNS' 26-game winning streak.It is Airdrie's first trophy since winning the same competition in 2008 when Kenny Black's Diamonds defeated Ross County on penalties.And in 2024, it is Rhys McCabe's men who are holding the trophy aloft after a pulsating contest at Falkirk Stadium.The Diamonds made three changes from last week's 5-2 win over Arbroath as cup-tied Kanayo Megwa and Arron Lyall were replaced by Cammy Ballantyne and Gavin Gallagher, while player-boss McCabe came in for Dean McMaster.There was a decision to make between the sticks after No.1 Josh Rae missed out following his concussion earlier this month and 22-year-old Robbie Hemfrey - who played his first competitive game of the season last week - got the nod, with experienced goalkeeper player-coach David Hutton on the bench.Ex-Accies midfielder Danny Redmond replaced Adrian Cieslewicz in the only change for Craig Harrison's side.TNS sank Hibs B, East Fife, Abroath and Falkirk en route to the final, but the Welsh Premier title winners found the Championship side a bridge too far after making a promising start.The first non-Scottish side to reach the final since Connah's Quay Nomads lost to Inverness in 2019, TNS started brightly and they should have been in front after just four minutes.They broke down the left and when Jordan Williams whipped the ball across the face