Super-sub Stephen Hughes helped ease East Fife’s relegation fears with a stunning free-kick as the visitors came from behind to claim a crucial win.
Airdrie had a howling gale and torrential rain at their backs in the first half and Lewis Coult put the hosts in front early on.
However, a Gregor Buchanan own goal two minutes from the break gave the Methil men the boost they needed.
Hughes then made his entrance at the break and had the desired effect when he set up Ross Brown to put East Fife ahead before his superb 30-yard free kick sealed victory.
Former Scotland international Hughes said: “Liam (Buchanan) normally takes them but I thought to myself, ‘He’s not here today.’ So I took it and managed to put it in.
“It’s up there with the best I’ve scored and it’s nice to score because it’s been a while.
“I missed out last week being ill and you can’t complain with the gaffer keeping the same team after a good result.
“All you can do is try and contribute when you come on and that’s what I did,” he added.
East Fife’s second win in a row put three points between themselves and Arbroath, with next week’s opponents Brechin a further point behind.
The veteran midfielder believes Gary Naysmith has made a big impact since coming in as caretaker manager and thinks his former Aberdeen team-mate is the right man to lead a talented group of players up the league.
“If Airdrie had beat us then it drags us back in and you’re looking behind you rather than upwards so it’s a big three points,” he said.
“We’ve got the quality to be up the other end of the table and it’s a big game next week.
“Gary has had a great start and he’s made us harder to beat so I’d be delighted if he got the job.
“I know him well and there’s that many young managers out there doing well I think he can be the next one.
“He’s played at the highest level and got that experience and he can get the best out of everybody.”
Dejected Diamonds boss Gary Bolland said: “We switched off after 25 minutes and it proved costly.”