Airdrie got their play--off hopes back on track with a solid home win over East Fife at the Penny Cars Stadium.
Dale Carrick's goal was enough to see the Diamonds through, moving them three points clear of their downed opponents in League One.
That leaves Airdrie four points off second-placed Falkirk, going into the last eight games.
Airdrie were the better side in the first half and deservedly went ahead through Dale Carrick's strike after Brett Long had parried his penalty effort, and Callum Smith also forced a terrific save from Long midway through the half.
it was much closer in the second half, with few real chances of note, as the sides somewhat cancelled each other out.
Airdrie were looking to bounce back after their first defeat in three at Montrose last week, and boss Ian Murray made four changes to that line-up.
Top scorers Callum Gallagher and Carrick came back in, alongside captain Sean Crighton and Smith. Leon McCann, Innes Murray, Kieran Millar and Andy Ryan dropped out.
East Fife gaffer Darren Young kept the same team that beat Forfar last time out, as they went in search of a third straight win.
Airdrie started the brighter of the two sides, but East Fife had the clearer chances, with captain Scott Agnew and winger Danny Denholm seeing shots blocked for corners.
Airdrie took the lead in 16 minutes when Josh Kerr was upended inside the box by East Fife defender Chris Higgins, with referee Colin Steven pointing to the spot.
Carrick's spot-kick was well saved by Brett Long, but the striker grabbed the rebound and rammed the ball high into the net for his 13th goal of the season
Fifers' Ross Davidson fired a shot wide from distance in 26 minutes as they tried to get back into the game.
Carrick had a chance to stretch Airdrie's lead on the half-hour, but his weak shot was comfortably taken by Long.
Airdrie nearly doubled their lead in 32 minutes when Smith turned on the left corner of the box and sent a dipping effort towards the top right corner, but it was superbly slapped past by Long.
It was Scott Gallagher's turn to keep his side ahead at the other end in 36 minutes, when he threw himself at Agnew's low shot to make sure it went past the right post.
Dowds sent a header over for the Fifers in 52 minutes from a Ryan Wallace cross.
Calum Gallagher tried his luck with a low shot in 47 minutes, but it was no problem for Long.
Wallace went close for East Fife in 61 minutes but didn't quite connect with a Dowds cross from the left.
Agnew tried his luck in 64 minutes, but Gallagher got down smartly to save.
There was a bizarre moment in 70 minutes when Paul McKay was sent through on goal, sent an effort wide and hit the deck, collecting a booking for simulation, much to the bemusement of pretty much everybody.
East Fife had a chance to level in 88 minutes when Davidson saw a shot deflected just past the left post.
Nat Wedderburn neatly put through his own goal in the last minutes, but it slipped past the right post.
AIRDRIE: Gallagher, MacDonald, Crighton, Kerr, Fordyce, Thomson (Roberts, 60), McKay (Millar, 77), Wedderburn, Smith (Murray, 46), C. Gallagher, Carrick.
Subs (not used): Hutton (GK), Hawkshaw, Roy, McCann.
Booked: McKay (70)
EAST FIFE: Long, Murdoch, Dunlop, Higgins, Slattery (Smith, 81), Morrison (Dunsmore, 68), Davidson,. Agnew, Denholm (Watt, 68), Wallace, Dowds.
Subs (not used): Hart (GK), Watson, Allan, Baker.
Sent off: Davidson (90+3)
Booked: Higgins (16), Davidson (16), Murdoch (72)
Referee: Colin Steven.
Attendance: 867.
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