Albion Rovers fell to their fourth defeat in five League Two outings after a perfect hat-trick from Nathan Austin kept Kelty Hearts top of the table.
The Englishman gave the Cliftonhill side a torrid time and notched the opener with a thumping right foot strike into the roof of the net, before powering home a header inside the opening 20 minutes.
And he completed his treble just after the hour mark when he pounced on Aldin El-Zubaidi's error to fire a low left-foot strike into the bottom corner.
Rovers did strike the bar in the first half through Scott Roberts, but it was a frustrating day all round for Brian Reid's men.
The result see Rovers slip to seventh as they were unable to build on last week's encouraging win over Cowdenbeath.
Rovers made one change from the Cowdenbeath clash, with David Wilson coming in to replace Lewis Wilson, while Max Wright retained his place up front alongside in-form Kyle Doherty following his first league goal for the club against the Blue Brazil.
There was three alterations to the Kelty side that drew 1-1 with Elgin a week ago, as gaffer Kevin Thomson called in Nathan Austin and Thomas O'Ware to replace Alfredo Agyeman and Dougie Hill. Scott Hooper was drafted in at the last minute for Kieran Ngenwa after he picked up an injury in the warm-up.
It was the visitors who got the first clear attempt on goal after 11 minutes - and it delivered the opening goal. Rovers were caught out when Kallum Higginbotham's ball over the top found Austin in the box and he rifled the ball past Cammy Binnie from 10 yards.
The home defence were sleeping at a corner moments later. Joe Cardle's quick thinking teed up Andrew Black unmarked with Rovers still trying to organise and his strike was flicked inches over the bar by Jamie Barjonas.
With only 20 minutes on the clock, the visitors found themselves 2-0 down with more poor defending, as Higginbotham and Austin combined to devastating effect once again. Higginbotham swung a ball in from the right to pick out Austin unmarked at the back post unmarked, and he gleefully took advantage, finding the bottom corner with a well-placed header.
Rovers looked for an instant response and they almost found it on their next attack when Scott Roberts rattled the crossbar with a 20-yard strike.
Kyle Doherty, who has five goals in his last two outings, sparked a Rovers attack with some neat feet to play a one-two with David Wilson, but when he tried a curling effort from the edge of the box, it landed narrowly wide of Darren Jamieson's far post.
Six minutes into the second half Rovers breathed a sigh of relief as a diving header from Jordon Forster flashed agonisingly wide, with Binnie desperately diving to his right.
Forster did call Binnie into action though seven minutes later with a bullet header from a Joe Cardle corner, the Rovers No.1 reacting brilliantly to palm it behind.
The resulting corner was turned behind and from the follow-up, an O'Ware header brought out another good stop from Binnie before the Rovers defence managed to clear the danger.
All that pressure eventually told when a poor defensive header by El-Zubaidi was pounced upon by Austin in the box and he kept his composure to drilled a low left-foot finish into the bottom corner.
Rovers boss Brian Reid turned to his bench with the introduction of trialist Jordan Morton for El Zubaidi and he almost provided a consolation when his fierce strike from distance had to been turned round the post by Jamieson.
Only a smart stop from Binnie to deny Higginbotham late on prevented a heavier defeat, but it was a comfortable afternoon for Kevin Thomson's men in Monklands.
In 83 minutes Rovers were celebrating when David Wilson looked to have curled in a free-kick, but it went narrowly wide.
Rovers return to action next Saturday when they make the trip to Forfar.
ALBION ROVERS: Binnie, Lynas, Leslie (Sweeney 86), El-Zubaidi (Morton 72, Fagan, McKernon, C Wilson (L Wilson 44), D Wilson, Doherty, Wright (Robinson 73), Roberts.
Bookings: El-Zubaidi, Morton
Subs not used: Fernie, McGowan, Sandberg, McVey, Dolan.
KELTY HEARTS: Jamieson, McNab, O'Ware, Forster, Hooper, Barjonas, Black, Philip, Higginbotham, Cardle, Austin (Biabi 76).
Scorers: Austin 11, 20, 63
Subs not used: Donaldson, Peggie, Tidser, Biabi, Finnan.
Ref: Grant Irvine
HT: 0-2
Att: 427
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