Airdrie put Raith Rovers to the sword with a swashbuckling performance as three brilliant goals handed the Diamonds three brilliant points and a first away win of the league season.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair made one enforced change as Craig Ross replaced the suspended Lewis Strapp at left-back, choosing to stand by Cade Melrose in goal following his late faux pas against Partick Thistle.

Paul Hanlon named ex-Diamonds Josh Rae and Dylan Easton among his first line-up since taking temporary charge at Stark’s Park following the midweek sacking of Barry Robson.

Raith were first to threaten with some early crosses into the box, but Dean McMaster twice got back to help his defence by calmly heading clear.

Jamie Barjonas almost put Lewis McGrattan in on goal in the fifth-minute, but his diagonal pass was cut out after Cole McKinnon had stepped out of defence to feed the midfielder.

Josh Mullin was his usual dangerous self down the Raith right, and won a seventh-minute corner after seeing a powerful effort deflected into the side netting.

Melrose punched out a corner and McGrattan cleared up as the home side continued to threaten, but Rae was the first keeper to make a direct save when he got down to pounce on a McGrattan effort on 13 minutes.

The former Airdrie keeper was in action again a minute later, but Chris Mochrie’s shot wasn’t equal to his sublime first touch after making an intelligent run in behind.

Euan Henderson was denied by a good Darragh O’Connor challenge before sending a 25-yard free-kick into the hands of Rae.

Raith hit back through Jack Hamilton, who saw the side netting ripple once again following Melrose’s touch.

On-loan Rangers midfielder Paul Nsio headed over from close range on 24 minutes, with Mullin sending an angled effort wide of the target two minutes later.

Nsio should have put his side ahead on 33 minutes, but somehow managed to touch the ball wide when it looked easier to score following another attacking foray led by Easton.

The midfielder was lucky to escape a card after kicking out at Aidan Wilson after the Diamonds captain had shepherded the ball out of play on 36 minutes, but punishment was administered via a fine Airdrie goal two minutes later.

Home fans were aggrieved after the ball struck Euan Henderson’s hand in the build-up, but referee Lloyd Wilson allowed play to continue and Gavin Gallagher applied a composed finish after Rae had saved brilliantly from Mochrie.

Nsio looked to have a good chance to equalise four minutes before half-time, but a superb recovery from McKinnon saw the makeshift full-back head back to Melrose to avert the danger.

Airdrie grabbed a sensational second eight minutes after the restart, countering a Raith attack which had seen Gallagher block a Scott Brown strike before Easton’s theatrical dive was rightly ignored. A pass out of defence sent Henderson haring down the right, and as the striker entered the box he elected to shoot rather than squaring for Mochrie – and fairly smashed the ball home off the underside of the bar.

Again the home side had no answer, Ross brilliantly dispossessing Hamilton after Rae had sparked a breakaway on the hour mark.

The Diamonds weren’t long in taking advantage of their momentum, another lightning-fast counter led by Mochrie, who spun away from Brown’s challenge, played a tight one-two with Henderson, and slotted under the advancing Rae for a fantastic third.

Raith Rovers pushed for a way back in to the match, but there was no way past Sean McGinty on 68 minutes and Melrose two minutes later, the young keeper showing no ill-effects from last week’s disappointment.

McKinnon saw a strike blocked behind before Melrose was in action again, making a fingertip stop from Nsio’s headed effort.

Substitute Charlie Telfer cleared one off the line as Raith’s corner kick deliveries continued to cause problems, and McGinty blasted over from close range as Airdrie tried to nick a fourth.

Another superb save from Melrose at the death saw the youngster gain a well deserved clean sheet as he ended the match as one of many top performers for the Diamonds.

With results elsewhere closing the gap at the bottom, Airdrie will take huge confidence from a superb display as they look to put together a run of results to move away from the relegation zone.