Two well-taken second half goals were enough to give Airdrie United victory over a despondent Raith Rovers at Starks Park, a result which extended the Diamonds' current unbeaten run to six games.
Rovers, meanwhile, remain rooted at the bottom of the First Division table, the Kirkcaldy side having failed to record a league victory since October.
Raith were first to threaten when, with eight minutes played, striker Herve Ebanda headed straight at Airdrie keeper Mark McGeown following a well-placed cross from Hamed Sacko.
The visitors retaliated through veteran striker Owen Coyle who surged forward in the 28th minute only to see his shot well saved by Rudy Pounoussamy in the Raith goal. Airdrie striker Alan Gow then tested Pounoussamy with a low shot as half-time approached.
Airdrie almost took the lead early in the second half when Coyle fired in a superb 20- yard free-kick which struck the crossbar. Gow appeared to have a simple task of heading home the rebound, but his effort was cleared off the goal-line by the back-tracking Jonathan Smart.
The Diamonds finally opened the scoring after 67 minutes when Coyle fed Mark Roberts whose cross was headed home by the unmarked Martin Hardie at the far post, and victory was confirmed two minutes from time when a shot from substitute Jerome Vareille was parried by Pounoussamy to Marvyn Wilson, who tapped in from close range.