Goalkeeper David McGurn was on top form as Raith Rovers ended Queen of the South’s long unbeaten home league record.
McGurn made several top saves to ensure Rovers became the first team to claim three points at Palmerston Park since May 2012.
The modest shot-stopper played down his own role in the victory, however, insisting it was all about the team performance.
“I made a couple of decent saves but that’s what I’m there for,” McGurn said. “This is hard place to come but the boys worked extremely hard and we’re delighted with three points.
“The work ethic was tremendous and the clean sheet comes from boys clearing balls off the line, winning headers and tackles. The goalkeeper is there to make saves.”
Greig Spence was the difference at the other end, with his first-half strike his sixth of the season proving to be the winner.
The on-form forward had the freedom of the six-yard box to side-foot home Grant Anderson’s low cross in the 17th minute.
Three minutes later, McGurn made his first save of the match, diving to the top corner to keep out a Derek Lyle header.
McGurn produced an even better save on the half-hour to keep out another close range header from Lyle as Queen’s piled on the pressure.
Five minutes later Danny Carmichael tried to chip McGurn from 25 yards but the keeper was equal to it, tipping the effort behind. From the corner, McGurn was finally beaten but Kevin Moon cleared Stephen McKenna’s header off the line.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Rovers raced up the park with Anderson crossing for Spence, who headed wide when he should have scored.
Rovers made a positive start to the second half and Spence was inches away from connecting with a Joe Cardle cross in the 52nd minute.
Queen’s regained the upper hand but the Raith defence held firm against a period of sustained pressure.
McGurn got down quickly to hold a powerful 20-yard strike from McKenna in the 75th minute but the home side lost their impetus with 12 minutes left when defender Mark Durnan was shown a red card for kicking out at Calum Elliot.
Raith boss Grant Murray was not surprised by his goalkeeper’s match-winning display.
“I’ve been at the club five years now and it’s what we expect from Davie,” he said. “You know if you’re playing at the back that you’ve got someone there who is capable of keeping the ball out of the net.”