Goals and wins had been scarce commodities for Finn Harps of late.
However, the Donegal side rekindled their play-off chances as Patrick Ferry and Jamie Watson earned their first win in seven.
A wretched sequence of results – six losses on the spin – ended as Harps moved above fellow play-off chasers Cobh Ramblers thanks to a deserved win at Finn Park.
Darren Murphy's team broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Ferry left two Cobh defenders in his slipstream and tucked home at the Town End.
Harps supporters had endured their fair share of frustration in recent outings, but their spirits and hopes were boosted considerably when Watson doubled the lead.
The Scot fired home emphatically in the 83rd minute to seal a much-needed win for Harps, who still have work to do to move firmly back into the play-off picture over the last seven games of the season.
Harps had a bright start and, with a little more composure, Max Johnston might've opened the scoring with less than two minutes played. A delightful pass from David Cawley created an opening, but Johnston fired off target.
In the 20th minute, Harps were in again when Tony McNamee's vision and precision fed Success Edogun, but his shot was smothered routinely by Darragh Burke.
Moments later, Brendan Frahill managed to block from a McNamee shot inside the box after Edogun turned provider.
Burke's night looked to have ended prematurely with the game stopped for over five minutes following a clash with Johnston. Replacement goalkeeper Arthur Nganou was ready for introduction, but Burke continued with his head bandaged.
Cobh began to probe with intent and Matthew McKevitt flicked one attempt wide while substitute Kevin Jordan – who replaced the injured Conor Tourish after 20 minutes – cleared another effort that seemed destined for the net.
Deep into added time at the end of the first half, the fingertips of Oisin Cooney – Harps' teenage 'keeper – ensured his sheet stayed clean. The visitors broke on a threatening counter attack and, after being released by Phillips, McKevitt's shot was turned out for a corner.
Eight minutes into the second half, Ferry's initial shot came off a Cobh defender and Johnston's rebound was wide of the mark.
Just after the hour, Ferry opened the scoring – and Harps were on their way to tasting a first win since early July.
Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Jamie Watson; Noe Baba, Matthew Makinson, Conor Tourish (Kevin Jordan 20); David Cawley (Aaron McLaughlin 90), Max Hutchison; Success Edogun (Gavin McAteer 90), Tony McNamee, Max Johnston; Patrick Ferry (Sean Patton 76).
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke (Arthur Nganou h-t); Tiernan O'Brien (Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh 87), Nolan Evers (Charlie O'Brien 81), Brendan Frahill, Cian Browne; Pierce Phillips (David Bosnjak 81), Jack Larkin, Dale Holland, Luka Le Bervet (Dean Larkin 72); Matthew McKevitt, Regix Madika.
Referee: Daryl Carolan.
Elsewhere, leaders Cork City will be crowned First Division champions next Friday night, if they beat UCD at Belfield.
Cork took the lead over Longford Town through Ruairi Keating in the 24th minute before Daniel Norris and a Francis Campbell penalty instigated an unlikely turnaround for the basement side by the 35th minute.
Keating's fellow big-name recent signing Seani Maguire scored a second-half brace, including a 90th minute winner, to leave Tim Clancy's side on the brink of a promotion that has seemed inevitable since the early days of the season.
Bray Wanderers closed in on a play-off spot with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Treaty United, with all of their goals coming in the first half.
A Kieran Cruise hat-trick was bookended by a Ben Feeney brace as the Seagulls scored five goals in the first half of a league match for the first time since October 1995.
Michael Raggett scored the only goal of the game as UCD beat Kerry 1-0 in Tralee, to move the second-placed Students five points clear of Athlone Town.
Athlone fell to a third successive defeat by losing 2-1 away at Wexford. Goals from Lewis Temple and Thomas Oluwa for the hosts sandwiched a Leo Gaxha effort for the visitors.
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