Institute moved a massive ten points clear of bottom club Lisburn Distillery, following a well-deserved victory over Dungannon Swifts.
Institute 2 - 0 Dungannon Swifts
Two first half goals was enough for the Drumahoe club to pick up their first league success since their away victory at Crusaders in early December.
Institute broke the deadlock after eight minutes when David Ogilby scored his third goal in two games.
Sean Friars' left wing corner was flicked on by Ryan Semple and the big centre-back after controlling the ball fired home with his weaker right foot.
The visitors should have levelled things on 21 minutes but Chris Morgan, who was only starting the game because Timmy Adamson got injured during the warm up, saw his close range shot blocked by David Ogilby and the ex-Glentoran striker's follow-up effort flashed just wide.
'Stute doubled their lead in the 38th minute in somewhat bizarre circumstances when Adam McMinn's header back to Alvin Rouse seemed to catch the big keeper cold and the ball somehow rolled past him and into the empty net.
Right on the stroke of half-time Morgan missed a golden chance to get his side into the game when he showed great skill to get himself some room inside the 'Stute box, but his tame shot from 10 yards was well saved by Gavin Cullen.
The home side started the second half on the front foot but for all their dominance they failed to trouble Rouse.
Dungannon made a double substitution on 57 minutes when Shane Coney and Alain Emerson replaced Morgan and Mark McCann and it was Coney who nearly made an immediate impact.
Ryan McIlmoyle's right wing corner was floated into the danger zone but Coney's goal bound header was cleared off the line by Thomas Wray.
The impressive Joe McCready had a super chance to score his first senior goal for 'Stute on 77 minutes, but Rouse did well to save at his feet, after Graham Crown's initial perfect pass had created the chance.
Institute: Cullen, Wray, Boyle, Ogilby, Seydak; Semple, Shields, Friars, Holmes; McClements, McCready. Subs: Crown for Friars (38); Blackburn for Semple (62); Deane for McClements (83).
Dungannon Swifts: Rouse, McAllister, McMinn, Ferguson, McClean, Gallagher, McCann, McCafferty, McIlmoyle, Morgan, Ward. Subs: Emerson & Coney for Morgan & McCann (57); Forker for McAllister (74).
Referee: Mr Paddy McFadden (Londonderry).
© UTV News