Second half goals from Euan Henderson and Lewis McGrattan made it three wins out of three for Airdrie, despite a late rally from Montrose at Gayfield.

The match went ahead 23.5 hours and 13.5 miles from the originally scheduled kick-off, but the Diamonds were unperturbed as they put in another professional performance to take three points back down the A9.

Manager Rhys McCabe named the same starting XI which had beaten Bonnyrigg Rose just over a week earlier, but there were welcome returns to the bench for captain Aidan Wilson and vice-captain Dean McMaster.

The early running went Airdrie’s way, but despite the efforts of Chris Mochrie and Lewis McGrattan, there were no clear-cut chances in the opening stages.

That changed on ten minutes when Jamie Barjonas played a killer pass to leave Euan Henderson one-on-one with Aaron Clark. The keeper spread himself well and denied the Airdrie forward with an outstretched boot.

A quick break took the home side forward, with Cade Melrose called into action. His save at the near post left his goal open for Ewan Loudon, but a brave block by Sean McGinty denied the Montrose man.

Melrose saved again midway through the half, but it was a routine stop for the keeper as Ali Shrive’s tame effort came through a ruck of bodies.

Two blocks denied Alex King and Liam McStravick a minute later as Airdrie worked a free-kick, and Dylan MacDonald’s header was wayward as McStravick crossed on 26 minutes.

Clark held a weak Henderson effort before some quick passing took the Diamonds into the box again, Aidan Quinn booting over his own bar before a visiting body could make contact.

McStravick sent a curling effort wide of the top corner as Airdrie began to turn up the pressure, with Melrose and Craig Ross remaining calm when Stewart Petrie’s side retaliated through Craig Wighton and Quinn.

Montrose made a goalkeeping change at the break, but the direction of traffic was toward Melrose immediately after the restart, Kieran Freeman sending an angled shot over the top before Kerr Waddell just failed to make contact with a corner-kick delivery.

With 56 minutes played Airdrie took the lead, Henderson breaking down the left and centring for Mochrie. Although the Diamonds’ number 7 didn’t get a touch on the ball, substitute Campbell Millar was deceived by his intent and the cross squeezed in at the far post.

Mochrie was unlucky not to add a second straight after, charging down a Millar clearance and watching the ball whistle past the post.

Melrose gathered a 59th-minute Loudon strike with ease, and the Diamonds punished their hosts by adding a second three minutes later.

Henderson was at the heart of the move again, this time driving in from the left flank and drawing a save from Millar. Tripped by a defender as he went for the loose ball, the referee played a good advantage as McGrattan stepped in to steer home.

Mochrie and Henderson combined against on 71 minutes, the former running at the defence and teeing up his team-mate, who curled just over.

A flurry of substitutions saw Wilson and McMaster take to the field alongside a trialist, but it was Montrose sub Matheus Machado who would spark his side’s revival with some lively attacking play.

After Wilson and MacDonald had repelled an 80th-minute attack, Montrose did get one back through the impressive Loudon, who took advantage as McMaster got in a fankle under pressure from two players. The former St Johnstone youngster beat Melrose with a powerful effort from just inside the box as the Diamonds conceded their first goal of the group stage.

A number of free-kicks around the Airdrie box made for a slightly nervy end to the match, but a defence led by McGinty and Wilson stood up to everything the League 1 side could throw at them.

Machado went closest with a 90th-minute dead-ball which flew narrowly over the bar, but Airdrie saw out stoppage time by comfortably keeping the ball in the corner, and the final whistle signalled a third straight win for the Diamonds.

Alloa Athletic come to the Albert Bartlett on Saturday also looking to protect a 100% record, so an interesting afternoon awaits as both side look to win a place in the seedings ahead of the knockout draw.