Lewis Gibson’s penalty handed Airdrie a sixth consecutive win, equalling the modern-era club record and lifting the Diamonds to fifth in the table as the first quarter of the league season drew to a close.

The victory against in-form Montrose saw Airdrie match the record set in 2019 as they continue their own excellent run.

With skipper Cole McKinnon ruled out by a back injury, defender Craig Ross returned to the line-up to take the armband. Declan Gallagher and Josh Gentles also came back in, while Kwame Boateng and Divine Iserhienrhien dropped to the substitutes bench after last week’s 7-1 win over Berwick Rangers.

Ex-Diamonds Flynn Duffy, Sean McGinty and Jamie Barjonas lined up for the Gable Endies, who also had Declan Glass on the bench.

There was little incident in the opening stages while the two sides sized each other up, but the tie came to life on ten minutes when Gentles rounded McGinty in the box and Gibson sent in an angled effort which Cammy Gill did well to tip over the bar.

The keeper was in action again two minutes later, smothering a low Reghan Tumilty strike.

Gibson had another go on 20 minutes, but again Gill was equal to the former Montrose loanee’s shot.

Some ball-juggling by Gentles was foiled by a 25th-minute block before Dylan MacDonald, playing in a more advanced midfield role, saw a promising cross well defended.

Gill was well placed to deal with a 35th-minute Gavin Gallagher effort before gratefully gathering a tame Connor Smith shot.

Montrose, who had moved the ball well in spells without troubling Jamie Sneddon, finally had an effort on target on 38 minutes, but Declan Gallagher headed away easily.

In the last action of the first half, Gill was alert to punch out a deep cross before Tumilty could pounce, and the sides went in at the break goalless.

The second half was only three minutes old when Airdrie had a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock, Gibson going down under the attentions of Charley Oosenbrugh as he chased a MacDonald pass, and referee Calum Scott awarding the penalty.

Gibson himself stepped up to take the spot-kick, and confidently despatched beyond the despairing dive of former team-mate Gill.

Gary Oliver was beaten to a McGinty head-flick a couple of yards out on 59 minutes, before a flurry of bookings and substitutions disrupted play.

The next chance fell to Diamonds sub Dapo Mebude, who looked to be in on goal following an excellent Gibson pass, but an awkward bounce allowed McGinty to recover and get a challenge in.

Mebude was inches away from connecting with a wicked Gibson cross on 71 minutes, and Montrose almost made Sneddon pay for a slack pass three minutes later, but the ball was blasted into the side netting.

Gill denied Gibson again as the match moved toward the final ten minutes, with Glass sending a 20-yard strike over the bar minutes after coming off the bench.

Oosenbrugh could easily have seen red for a cynical challenge on Airdrie sub Divine Iserhienrhien, who looked to be in on goal, but the referee settled for a yellow after adjudging Aidan Quinn to be in a covering position.

A frantic period of stoppage time saw Blair Lyons fire across goal with nobody able to turn home, and the final whistle sounded, with another big three points remaining in Airdrie.

The Diamonds make the short journey to East Kilbride next week as they look for a fourth consecutive league win – and a new record.