Queen's Park finally ended a nightmare 15-match winless run with victory over a depleted Dunfermline.
The Hampden Park men hadn't tasted victory since September 9 when they claimed a 3-0 win over Bala Town in the Challenge Cup - consider league matches alone and it was August 19 when Queen's Park last won.
However, Ruari Paton and Dom Thomas were on target to earn interim coach Paul Nuijten his first win and see Queen's Park go level on points with Arborath at the bottom of the Championship table.
Dunfermline haven't had their own troubles to seek with injury severely impacting James McPake's matchday squad and a cobbled-together rearguard required at Hampden.
It was little surprise then, for proceedings at the national stadium to begin with a whimper with both sides seeking to settle nerves - Dunfermline themselves perhaps a little low on confidence having gone four games without a win.
On 25 minutes, though, the match sparked into life with Owen Moffat drilling wide from 30 yards. Seconds later and Queen's Park were aggrieved not to be ahead.
Jack Spong played through Cameron Bruce who cut back for Paton to drill home from inside the box but the offside flag was raised denying an opener - despite TV replays suggesting it was the wrong decision.
Dunfermline keeper Deniz Mehmet was then called upon to thwart a barrage of Queen's Park attacks with both skipper Thomas and Paton both denied with smart stops.
After a stalemate in the first period, those inside Hampden had just ten minutes to wait for an opener for the home side. Spong pinched the ball in an advanced position and slid to man of the match Paton who cut onto his right foot and slammed into the bottom corner.
Queen's Park would then double their lead on 78 minutes with captain Thomas finding the top corner as his deflected strike looped over Mehmet to ripple the net and seemingly end the contest.
But Dunfermline - who lost Aaron Comrie and Alex Jakubiak to injury - would threaten a comeback in the closing stages.
Out of nothing, Moffat worked space on the left flank and cut back to Celtic loanee Ben Summers who hammered low into the bottom corner off the inside of the left post.
With five minutes left, Dunfermline began to throw everything at it and appeared to have snatched a point one minute from time. Josh Edwards lashed a fierce strike towards goal and despite cheers in the stands, the ball only hit the side netting.
Queen's Park would hold out to take a huge win - one four-and-a-half months in the making.
Interim boss Nuijten - who replaced Robin Veldman last month - admitted he has had no discussions over his position or any insight into how long he would remain in charge.
And Nuijten confirmed former Livingston and Morton boss David Hopkin has been involved at Queen's Park to assist him in the midst of the relegation battle.
"I am focused game on game and then we will see how long it will take," said Nuijten of his position.
On Hopkin's interim role, he added: "As you know I am a young coach, I am inexperienced at this level so it is really good to have help from someone who has more life experience, more coaching experience and knows the Championship really well.
"I think it is really good for me as a young coach that I have a certain mentor next to me who can give me advice and we make the decisions as a staff together.
"I think it is good that someone who can, like a mentor figure, help us out."
