Airdrie continued to apply pressure in the League One title charge with a comfortable 2-0 win against fellow promotion hopefuls Queen's Park.
The Excelsior Stadium side dominated the early stages and Callum Smith had a volley smartly denied by Spiders goalkeeper Calum Ferrie.
He wouldn't be stopped eight minutes before half-time with a fine strike into the bottom corner and Dylan Easton's brilliant hit before the interval was just as good.
Ian Murray's Airdrie controlled proceedings after this as the Diamonds manager watched his team push for a third and decisive goal.
A passive second half played out but the damage was already done by the relentless home side, who are now 14 games without a loss in League One.
They sit second and five points off Cove Rangers ahead of a potentially defining match with Paul Hartley's men next Saturday. Queen's Park remain fourth in the final promotion play-off spot.
Airdrie made one change from the team that beat Falkirk 4-1 last weekend. Craig Watson came out for Scott Walker while Ronan Darcy and Cameron Bruce came into Queen's contention.
A win had the potential to move the Diamonds two points off Cove Rangers ahead of meeting the league leaders at home, so victory here against another team in a promotion play-off spot was crucial.
Murray's men started on the front foot and pounded Spiders goalkeeper Ferrie with shots. Smith's eighth minute was volleyed was parried well.
Then Scott Agnew had a drive go wide on 11 minutes before the clock struck 19 and Ferrie was tested again, this time by Calum Gallagher. The goalkeeper stood tall.
A lull in the game followed as Queen's Park were invited into proceedings with more possession and forays into attacking areas, without much end product.
The Diamonds weren't creating much either as Easton's high effort over the bar on 34 minutes proved the only talking point of a dull 10 minutes.
Smith reignited the game with some brilliant play and a goal on 37 minutes. He dribbled well, shrugging off the opposition before dispatching calmly into the bottom corner.
It was the lift Murray's men required for full control and Easton put them on the brink of a 14th league game without a loss.
Controlling an Adam Frizzell cross expertly, he angled his body and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner to hand Airdrie a big boost heading down the tunnel.
Queen's wielded the axe at the break and made four changes for coming out in the second period, as they looked to turn the tide on proceedings.
A home 2-0 lead had allowed Airdrie to calm things down but they still sought a third goal. Brody Paterson's cross on 52 minute wasn't turned in by Gabby McGill and Easton almost had a spectacular brace 10 minutes later.
Connor Smith had a tame effort in a rare Queen's opening on 66 minutes but Diamonds goalkeeper Max Currie dealt with it comfortably.
The game was petering out but this suited Airdrie with a significant lead by this point, Luca Connell's effort on 77 minutes merely a scare.
It's another win in a fine run of form for Murray's men, who now face a huge match with Cove next week.
Airdrie XI: Currie, Paterson, Fordyce, McCabe, Agnew, Gallagher (Afolabi, 84), Easton (Kerr, 84), Smith Walker, Frizzell, McGill (Devenny, 79).
Subs: Cantley, Kerr, Ritchie, Afolabi, Allan, McDonald, Watson, McGill.
Queen's Park XI: Ferrie, Grant (Davidson, 46), Longridge (46, McBride), McHugh (46, Longstaff), Brown, Fox, Doyle, Smith, Bruce, Connell, Darcy (Lyon, 46).
Subs: Quitongo, Heraghty, Fairlie, McLeish, Mauchin.
Referee: Craig Napier.
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