A first half Cammy Smith goal was enough to send St Mirren back to the top of the Ladbrokes Championship after a tough fought 1-0 win over Dunfermline.
The forward's ninth goal of the season gave Saints a big three points and saw them move one clear of Dundee United and 12 clear of The Pars.
It was the visitors who went closest to opening the scoring in the early exchanges when, with just five minutes on the clock, Ryan Williamson burst into the Saints box and saw his effort deflected by for a corner.
The game had it's fair share of controversial moments, the first coming just before 10 minutes when Sean Murdoch was lucky to escape red when he wiped out Gavin Reilly on the edge of the box. The Saints striker had broken on to a terrific long ball from Lewis Morgan and just as he looked to round the Pars keeper he was brought down. Referee Craig Charleston awarded a free kick and consulted with his linesman before deciding only to book the goalkeeper much to the annoyance of the Saints support. Ian McShane stepped up to take but sent it over.
Dunfermline had a few half chances in the next period of the match with Adam Eckersley doing well to block a Nicky Clark shot before a corner kick led to a scramble in the box which Saints eventually managed to get clear.
Reilly wasn't far away from netting against the side he was on loan at last season on 23 minutes. A Nat Wedderburn handball saw The Buddies awarded a free kick on the right hand side. McShane swung the ball into the Dunfermline box where Morgan nodded into the path of Reilly who then flicked goalwards with Murdoch doing well to palm away.
The Buddies took the lead on 38 minutes after Cammy Smith finished off a nice move from the Saints. Kyle Magennis sent through a wonderful pass to find McShane who had run into the box. It really was a pass of the highest quality with McShane cutting it across the box to Gavin Reilly. The striker, who had his back to goal, took the ball in and on the turn had it pinched off him by Smith who knocked beyond Murdoch to put Saints in front.
Saints had a huge chance to double their advantage when McShane picked out Reilly who found himself clear on goal. Murdoch raced off his line with Reilly electing to try and lob the keeper but sent the ball over the bar.
Half Time: St Mirren 1-0 Dunfermline
While St Mirren were well worthy of their first half lead on the balance of play, the second half saw the home side have to dig deep to eek out the three points. But they could have made it 2-0 very early into the second half when a Kyle Magennis ball in from the left was headed just wide by Jack Baird.
Joe Cardle went mightily close for Pars on 51 minutes when his effort from the edge of the box whistled just beyond Craig Samson's post.
Nicky Clark will feel he should have done better on 63 minutes when he was found unmarked by Jason Talbot's cross but he sent his header wide.
A minute later saw the game's second big controversial moment when Craig Charleston awarded Dunfermline a penalty as Ryan Williamson fell under the challenge of Adam Eckersley. The Saints team were angered at the award as it looked like Williamson had dived anticipating contact. The referee consulted with his linesman and came to the conclusion that no penalty should be awarded with Williamson picking up a yellow card for simulation.
Dunfermline were having a lot of pressure but weren't creating many clear cut chances. Substitute Fraser Aird would have been desperately disappointed he didn't get them level with just a few minutes remaining when he was picked out in the box. The Canadian had time and space but blootered the ball over the bar.
In the end St Mirren held out to pick up another vital three points in their quest for promotion and move to the top of the league following the abandonment of Dundee United's match away to Queen of the South.
Full Time: St Mirren 1-0 Dunfermline
St Mirren: Samson, L. Smith, Baird, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn, McShane, Magennis, C.Smith (MacPherson 88), Morgan, Reilly (Mullen 75)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Buchanan, MacKenzie, Kirkpatrick, Sutton
Dunfermline: Murdoch, Williamson, Talbot, Morris, Ashcroft, Higginbotham (Paton 82), Shiels, Wedderburn, Cardle (Aird 82), McManus, Clark
Subs Not Used: Gill, Martin, Mvoto, Ryan, Callum Smith
Referee: Craig Charleston
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: Scott Leslie
Attendance: 3665