St Mirren 1-0 St Johnstone
Forgotten man Steven McGarry fired a timely reminder of his goalscoring abilities to St Mirren manager Tom Hendrie as the Buddies closed the gap on relegation rivals Dundee United to just one point.
While The Paisley side have struggled with a selection nightmare since the winter break, the striker has found himself overlooked.
But he came roaring back in his first start since the end of January to curl a wonderful first-half winner against St Johnstone - a goal which could prove crucial in their fight against the drop to the First Division.
In contrast, Saints manager Sandy Clark fielded an inexperienced line-up after a crippling injury and suspension crisis leaving him no choice but to draft in a clutch of kids.
Fired over
The visitors were on the back-foot in the early exchanges and it was the recalled McGarry, who went close on two occasions in the opening three minutes.
First he blasted over inside the box and then curled a 22-yard effort just past Alan Main's post.
St Mirren were fortunate not to go behind in the seventh minute when 18-year-old striker Keigan Parker found space in the box, but snatched at the opportunity and fired over.
Paul Hartley came within inches of the opener for the visitors after 17 minutes.
Parker found Brendan Crozier, who in turn played the ball to the former Hibernian man, who turned and fired just past the post from 10 yards.
Continued to struggle
The home side made the vital breakthrough in the 29th minute when Scott MacKenzie played a superb defence-splitting pass through to Chris Kerr and he crossed to the unmarked McGarry, who steered the ball into the bottom corner.
St Johnstone tried to hit back before the break and the home side survived an amazing let-off in the 35th minute.
Michael O'Neill swung in a free-kick from the right and Mark Yardley somehow blocked Ross Forsyth's header off the line and then skipper Tommy Turner did the same with Parker's follow-up effort.
St Johnstone could not break the Buddies
St Johnstone introduced Tommy Lovenkrands at the break for O'Neill and teenager Mark Ferry for Frail after an hour, but the visitors continued to struggle.
St Johnstone survived a penalty scare in the 68th minute when sub Jose Quitongo went down under the challenge of Crozier.
Point-blank range
Marc McCulloch came on for the tired Crozier in the 76th minute as Clark threw caution to the wind.
The home side almost killed the game off in the 78th minute when Gillies found Sergei Baltacha, whose stinging drive was saved by Main at the second attempt.
The St Johnstone goalkeeper almost embarrassed himself in the 83rd minute when he failed to clear the ball but Yardley shot straight at him from point-blank range.
St Mirren substitute Maikel Renfurm stung Main's fingers with a shot late on but the vital three points were still in the bag courtesy man-of-the-match McGarry.
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St Mirren: Roy, Baltacha, Turner, Barry McLaughlin, Kerr, McGowan, McKenzie, Gillies, McGarry, Fenton, Yardley.
Subs: Scrimgour, Nicolson, Renfurm, Bowman, Quitongo.
St Johnstone: Main, Frail, Weir, Kernaghan, McCluskey, Dasovic, Crozier, Forsyth, Hartley, Parker, O'Neill.
Subs: Cuthbert, Lovenkrands, McCulloch, McClune, Ferry.
Referee: S Dougal
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