Shire fully merited their first win of the season, but it took them into the second session before making their superiority count. Defences were generally on top in the first half with chances at a premium, but both sides should have scored.
The visitors had the better opportunities, but both Hugh Davidson and Roddy Black failed to hit the target when bulging the net looked the easier option.
In between these efforts, Arbroath keeper Neil Inglis denied Iain Diack with a point- blank save after the striker had picked up a through pass inside the area.
However, Shire took the lead three minutes after the turnaround, through Diack. Ally Graham and Paul Tyrrell combined to put the striker through, and he flashed a low rising drive past keeper Inglis.
Shire were gifted a second when Jay Stein opted to send a pass-back towards his keeper, but failed to spot the solitary Diack 20 yards nearer the goal. Diack accepted the gift, and sent a curling shot round the keeper, to give his team a two-goal goal cushion.
The visitors rallied towards the end, and pulled one back through Roddy Black, with a spectacular volley.
However, any hopes of a revival were sunk when Graham netted Shire's third in the final minute during a melee in the Arbroath area.