Lewis Toshney scored his first goal for Raith Rovers to keep the Kirkcaldy side’s 100% home record intact.
The former Dundee defender’s second-half header sealed a 1-0 win over Dumbarton to make it six wins from six at Stark’s Park, while the clean sheet also means Raith have yet to concede a league goal at home this season.
It also continued the centre-half goal-scoring trend set by defensive partner Kyle Benedictus, who has hit the net three times so far this season.
“I’m delighted to get off the mark here, and hopefully there’s many more to come,” Toshney said.
“I can hopefully catch Kyle as well because he keeps going on about how he’s top scorer.
“Our home form been very good and we just wanted to keep that going.
“If you keep clean sheets you give yourself a better chance of winning games.
“That’s six straight wins we just need to keep that going and make this place a fortress.”
The three points took Raith up to third in the table, level on points with second-placed Falkirk, but the Fifers had to dig deep against a dogged Dumbarton side.
Raith looked sluggish after their midweek cup exertions at Parkhead, and the visitors almost took the lead in the 12th minute but Eamon Brophy dragged a shot wide after turning sharply in the box.
The visitors were grateful for an amazing goal-line block from defender Frazer Wright to prevent Mark Stewart opening the scoring in the 40th minute from Jon Daly’s knock-down.
Chances were few and far between but Dumbarton striker Kevin Cawley escaped in the box to send a close-range header over the bar on 53 minutes.
Three minutes later Rovers took the lead as Craigen’s free-kick was headed against the bar by Benedictus, and Toshney reacted sharply to nod the rebound over the line.
A tiring Rovers side sat back in the closing stages but, for all Dumbarton’s pressure, they were unable to test Kevin Cuthbert in the Raith goal.
Raith boss Ray McKinnon was delighted with the three points but admitted his team looked heavy-legged after the Celtic cup tie.
“It’s a great three points on the back of the performance down at Celtic,” he said.
“It was a really tough game. We were feeling the effects of Wednesday night in the legs and we were a half yard short.
“The boys had to really dig it out and I’m delighted with every one of them.”