Stenhousemuir made it three wins in their last three games after a close encounter with Arbroath at Ochilview.
Arbroath must have been wondering how they had failed to secure a share of the points as they created a number of clear-cut chances only to thwarted by either poor finishing or superb goalkeeping by Willie McCulloch in the home goal.
Stenhousemuir's opening goal after only seven minutes play, however, was worthy of winning any match as the quality of Colin Cramb's shot from the edge of the box following a John Paul McBride corner won't be bettered all season.
In this stop-start affair peppered by whistles from the referee, McBride struck the post with a free-kick in the 64th minute.
McBride tested Mark Peat once again in the 74th minute with a well-struck shot that Mark Peat could only push past the post. From the resultant corner taken by McBride, the Warriors extended their lead when Jim Mercer headed home against his old club to put the game beyond doubt.
Arbroath were to be denied even a consolation goal when McCulloch somehow managed to stop a Pat Clark effort at point-blank range after 83 minutes.