Airdrie recorded their first league victory of the season thanks to Euan Henderson’s first-half penalty against high-flying Arbroath.

Caretaker manager Aaron Taylor-Sinclair made four changes to the side following the midweek loss to Dunfermline Athletic and Danny Lennon’s subsequent departure.

With Dylan MacDonald and Scott Constable missing out through injury, and Mason Chisholm and Jake Hastie dropping to the bench, Sean McGinty, Jamie Barjonas, Dean McMaster and Gavin Gallagher came into the starting line-up.

With all of the club’s recognised right-backs on the treatment table, midfielder Cole McKinnon filled in – and it proved a good decision with the former Rangers man picking up the Man of the Match award.

A low-key opening saw an Arbroath corner headed narrowly wide on four minutes before Matty Connelly smothered a low cross with ease five minutes later.

The first real spark from Airdrie proved to be a decisive one, McMaster’s sublime pass picking out the run of Henderson, with former Diamond Scott Stewart clipping the forward’s heels as he raced into the box.

Referee Ryan Lee pointed to the spot, and top scorer Henderson took responsibility, tucking the spot-kick away in his trademark stuttering style.

Airdrie could have had another penalty two minutes later, but this time Henderson’s strong claims were waved away as he went down under a high challenge just inside the area.

With the Diamonds in the ascendancy, Chris Mochrie came close to a goal of the season contender as he slalomed into the box on 21 minutes, only to be denied by a point-blank Aidan McAdams save.

Arbroath, who had handed leaders St Johnstone their first defeat a week ago, came back into the match as the half wore on, Sean McGinty blocking well from Ryan Dow on 28 minutes before Connelly did well to save a close-range header.

A 35th-minute move was well defended by the Red Lichties, with McGinty again unbeatable as the final attack of the first half came down the Arbroath left.

The visitors looked to be going all-out for an equaliser early in the second half, some desperate Airdrie defending keeping a 51st-minute attack at bay. As the Diamonds broke upfield, a stray pass from Mochrie denied Henderson the chance to get clean through.

Arbroath threatened again on 55 minutes, and a slick passing move saw a cross touched on to Taylor Steven, the on-loan St Johnstone forward beating Connelly but not the crossbar.

Play moved from end to end as McKinnon’s long range effort left McAdams a relieved man as it drifted past the post. Arbroath should have scored as they raced upfield, yet somehow contrived to put the ball wide of the top corner from a couple of yards out.

Some good pack defending prevented Lewis Strapp from troubling McAdams after a good run just after the hour mark, and a powerful 25-yard Charlie Telfer strike was held by the Arbroath keeper at the second attempt.

Mochrie’s 70th-minute effort was high and wide before Findlay Marshall’s shot went the same way at the other end.

Substitutions for both sides did nothing to change the end to end nature of the match, Tate Xavier-Jones desperately close to connecting with Jake Hastie's cutback with seven minutes remaining.

Arbroath sub Dapo Mebude peeled off his marker on 86 minutes, but the former Dunfermline striker sent his shot wide of the target as he spun in the box.

Jack Wilkie was wasteful from an 88th-minute free-kick, and Connelly claimed a near-post cross three minutes into stoppage time.

Another good take from the Diamonds keeper relieved the late pressure, and the final whistle triggered relieved cheers from the stands as Airdrie finally notched the all-important first win.

A trip to Perth to face table-toppers St Johnstone lies ahead next weekend, but the Diamonds will be lifted by today’s win and mindful of an excellent second half performance against the Saints last month.