Substitute David Gormley's late strike was enough to give leaders Ayr victory against Raith Rovers at Starks Park, Kirkcaldy
The two clubs had been tied at the top of the Second Division with 51 points from 26 games, Ayr having scored 10 more goals but conceded 6 more than the Fifers before the game and Ayr United's were hoping to improve on their record at Starks Park which, prior to yesterday's game, read P65, W15, D32, L18, F75, A126.
The home side had won just one of the last nine games between the sides.
Ayr's loan signing Kevin James made his 299th senior appearance on Saturday.
The first half was deadlock with neither club wishing to concede an early goal, but it was Raith who almost broke the deadlock early in the second half when Allan Walker was denied by Stephen Grindlay's parry.
Ayr began to threaten the home defence inan effort to take advantage in the title race and Rovers' goalkeeper David McGurn held Neil McGowan's shot on the line after Chris Aitken's corner was not cleared properly by the Raith defence.
The match looked set to end goalless when Gormley bundled home on 84 minutes after Craig Wilson failed to clear. Raith, who have prime minister Gordon Brown amongst their supporters, could do nothing to recover from Ayr's late body blow.
After weeks of threatening to make clear water at the top of the league, Ayr have at last made a definitive move at the top of the league.
The clubs now go into midweek matches with Ayr taking on another Fife team, East Fife at Methil.