Ten-man Airdrie held out for a draw with Queen of the South as Diamonds striker Calum Gallagher broke Bryan Prunty's scoring record at the club.
In a pulsating contest that delivered six goals and a red card for Cammy Ballantyne for the second time in four games, the ex-Rangers frontman netted his 44th goal in the Diamond and that saw him surpass Prunty's record as the top scorer in the post-2002 era (when the original Airdrie went bankrupt).
The sides shared four goals in the first half with Josh Todd firing Queens in front after just three minutes. Goals from Gallagher and Callum Fordyce had Airdrie in front within 14 minutes before Harry Cochrane's stunning strike pulled Queens level in the 42nd minute.
And after the break fans continued to get value for money as Callum Smith's strike for Airdrie was quickly cancelled out by Gavin Reilly's header.
The result stopped a run of three straight defeats for Airdrie, who remain in fifth place six points behind leaders Edinburgh City.
The Diamonds handed a debut to new goalkeeper Dean Lyness, fresh from his move from St Mirren, in one of three changes from the midweek defeat to Montrose.
Youngster Alex Henderson dropped to the bench as a result, where he was joined by Euan Deveney. Adam Frizzell was also out of the side following his injury against the Gable Endies. That saw Lewis Jamieson come in to start the clash following his goal at Links Park on Tuesday night alongside Dean McMaster.
There was also a trio of changes for the Doonhamers with Harry Cochrane, Michael Ruth and Lee Connelly coming for Ruari Paton, Calvin McGrory and injured player-boss Wullie Gibson.
And it was the visitors who drew first blood, bagging the opener inside three minutes. Josh Todd played a neat one-two with Gavin Reilly on the edge of the Airdrie box and his curling strike found the bottom corner past Lyness.
It was a nightmare start for McCabe's men but they were quick to respond, pulling level just two minutes later.
A ball in from Lewis Jamieson found Gallagher and he volleyed home to break Prunty's record - receiving a congratulatory hug from the current Diamonds coach during the celebrations after overtaking him.
The blistering start to proceedings continued when Airdrie turned the game on its head after just 14 minutes. Justin Devenny swung in a corner from the left towards the near post and skipper Fordyce powered home a header to send the hosts in front.
In 28 minutes superb footwork on the edge of the box from Todd earned Queens a free-kick 20-yards out. From the set-piece, Stephen Hendrie rifled a low shot at goal and Lyness did well to divert it away from danger with an outstretched leg.
But just before the break, Lyness was beaten with an effor from range as Todd teed-up Harry Cochrane to unleash an unstoppable strike 25-yards out, and it found its way into the net via the post to have the sides level at half-time having shared four goals.
Eight minutes into the second half, Queens almost edge in front when Todd's delivery across the face of goal with tipped away from danger by Lyness.
Moments later Reilly was played in on goal and only a last-ditch tackle from Cammy Ballantye prevented him firing Queens ahead.
That came back to bite them as Airdrie regained the lead in the 61st minute when Smith got on the end of Craig Watson's cross to tuck the ball home from close range.
However, just as Airdrie had done to Queens in the first half, the response to going behind was immediate. Hendrie's pinpoint cross from the left found the run of Reilly and he powered a header beyond Lyness for the sixth goal of the game to make it 3-3.
The drama was far from over and Airdrie found themselves down to 10 men in the 78th minute when Ballantyne picked up a second booking for a foul on Reilly at the halfway line.
Queens had a huge chance to win in in the 81st minute when the ball was cut back to Connor Murray inside the box, but Lyness stood firm to palm his sidefoot effort away from danger.
Airdrie are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Alloa, who knocked them out of the SPFL Trust Trophy last month.
AIRDRIE: Lyness, Watson, Fordyce, McCabe, Ballantyne, McMaster, Telfer, Jamieson (McGill 75), Devenny (Taylor-Sinclair 83), Smith, Gallagher.
Scorers: Gallagher 5, Fordyce 14, Smith 61
Bookings: Ballantyne
Subs not used: Henderson, Deveney.
QOS: Fox, McKay, McKenna, Hendrie, East, Cochrane (Paton 56), Ruth (McGrory 56), Wilson, Todd, Reilly, Connelly (Murray 59),
Scorers: Todd 3, Cochrane 42, Reilly 63
Bookings: Cochrane
Subs not used: Currie, Quitongo, McKechnie, Irving, Bange, L Gibson.
Ref: Peter Stuart
HT: 2-2
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