Cowdenbeath got their first home win in seven attempts and goal scorer Kane Hemmings believes the Central Parkers can increase the pressure on the clubs above them in the coming weeks.
Hemmings struck with 20 minutes left in a tight game as Raith battled to overcome a goal drought which has seen them go five games without hitting the net.
They included former marksman John Baird to help achieve this but he was unable to break the shackles the home defence had on him.
The result saw Cowdenbeath close to within four points of Livingston, and five on Alloa Athletic, so it is set to be an exciting closing phase to the Championship season.
Hemmings struck with a stooping header after the Rovers rearguard had been unable to deal with a home raid and in the closing minutes his strike partner Greg Stewart had two golden chances to put the game to bed but was denied by Rovers’ keeper Ross Laidlaw.
The striker, who has scored 15 league goals, said: “It was good to get the home monkey off our backs and I felt we thoroughly deserved the win.
“We created a lot of good chances and I should have had more than one goal and Greg would agree that he should have hit the net.
“We have a really big game coming up in two weeks’ time against Morton and our aim has to be to go there and get another win.”
Cowden boss Jimmy Nicholl was delighted with the way his team ended their barren home run.
“I felt it was a deserved three points for we again created some excellent chances and also recorded a shut-out,” the former Raith boss said.
“I have said to the players that the way they move the ball about and with the front two we have, we are going to create chances but it is stopping the goals at the other end that has been a problem.
“We defended superbly and seldom put a foot wrong and that is what we will need to repeat time and again in the coming weeks.”
The defeat leaves Rovers in sixth place but only two points off a play-off spot and new recruit Baird feels that the goals will come again for the Stark’s Parkers.
He was back in a Rovers strip at Central Park and said after the match: “It was good to get back out there playing.
“It was a frustrating game for us in difficult conditions were difficult and we did create a couple of decent openings but the finishing touch seems to be missing at the moment.”
Rovers manager Grant Murray is looking for Baird to sharpen the competition among the Kirkcaldy front men to rekindle their goal threat.
“John is a proven goalscorer and he will increase the competition for a starting place among our strikers.
“I do not like losing any game never mind a derby match but we lost a bad goal by not dealing properly with a set-piece then struggled to get back into the game.”
Rovers take their mind off the league for a week with a Scottish Cup tie against Hibs this weekend.