Airdrie prevented TNS from becoming the first non-Scottish side to win the SPFL Trust Trophy as they battled back from an early deficit to win the competition for the first time since 2009.

An early goal from Ben Clark put TNS ahead before Liam McStravick drew Airdrie level in a frantic opening to the game. The pace barely relented throughout a thoroughly entertaining first half, but in a far cagier second period, it was a penalty that allowed Airdrie to take a crucial lead through Nikolay Todorov.

Both teams came into this match in sparkling form, with TNS on a remarkable run of 26 games without defeat and Airdrie on a comparatively modest six match run without a loss.

Something had to give here, and it was TNS’s long unbeaten streak that was snapped by a brilliant attacking display from Rhys McCabe’s side in the opening 45 minutes, and a dogged showing after the break that got them over the line.

Sitting fourth in The Championship, this is the icing on the cake of an already hugely impressive season for the Lanarkshire outfit, as McCabe enhanced his burgeoning reputation further still by guiding his men to this triumph.

Airdrie manager McCabe started himself here, as he has done in all of the ties in this competition this season, and he made two further changes from the side that beat Arbroath last weekend, with Cammy Ballantyne coming in at full back as Gavin Gallagher came into the midfield.

It was something of a surprise to see former Morton man Declan McManus on the bench for the Welsh outfit, but former Ayr United man Brad Young – who has 27 goals in 30 appearances for TNS since signing for them last summer – was at the sharp end of their attack.

Though, he was uncharacteristically blunt in front of goal as TNS created a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the opening minutes.

Jordan Williams did brilliantly down the left, picking out Young all alone in the centre of the box six yards from goal with his low cross, but the striker somehow managed to prod the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

The match roared from end to end right from the off, and after Airdrie had a couple of sniffs through Adam Frizzell and Gallagher, Young made amends at the other end for his earlier miss by crafting the opener for TNS.

He showed tenacity to ride a tackle from Callum Fordyce, before showing pace to get to the byline and then vision to pick out the run of the arriving Clark to smash home into the roof of the net.

When Danny Redmond brought out an impressive save from Airdrie keeper Robbie Hemfrey moments later, it looked as though it was shaping up to be a long afternoon for the Championship side, but it took a couple of last-ditch blocks by TNS defenders in quick succession to deny Airdrie youngster McStravick as he latched onto balls over the top.

They weren’t going to get away with it a third time though, and when Frizzell picked out his run in behind once more, he produced a fine finish on the half-volley over TNS keeper Connor Roberts to drag Airdrie level.

How they weren’t ahead moments later only they know, as Charlie Telfer’s effort across Roberts was somehow diverted off Todorov and over the bar from inches out by the desperate sliding challenge of Josh Daniels.

Daniels gave Airdrie a close call of their own at the other end soon after, heading a corner off the post as the action continued at breakneck pace right through to the interval.

Airdrie manager McCabe withdrew himself at the break, with Dean McMaster coming on, and his side were dealt a further blow on the hour when goalscorer McStravick injured his knee and had to be withdrawn, with Chris Donnell coming on.

It was always going to be tough for the second half to live up to the entertainment value of the first, and though the players kept up the frantic pace as best they could, goalmouth action was a lot harder to come by.

But just as it looked as though both sides were becoming risk averse with the second half drawing on, some opportunistic play from Josh O’Connor handed Airdrie a golden opportunity to hit the front.

TNS defender Josh Pask headed a long ball partially clear, but as he went to complete the clearance, O’Connor nipped in to take the brunt of Pask’s swinging leg instead of the ball. It was a simple call for referee Matthew MacDermid to point to the spot, and Todorov made the conversion look simple too, tucking the ball home low to Roberts’ right.

It was time for TNS manager Craig Harrison to send the SOS to McManus, and the forward got his big opportunity, Airdrie heaving a sigh of relief as he planted his header the wrong side of Hemfrey’s post.

The Welsh side threw the kitchen sink at Airdrie in the closing stages, but their defence, led by impressive centre-back pairing of Craig Watson and Fordyce, stood firm to give the sizeable Airdrie support - many of whom spilled onto the pitch - an evening to remember.