The Jags took a stranglehold on the game inside 14 first-half minutes when Chalmers put them in front and Samuel doubled their advantage just two minutes later.

They squandered the opportunity to effectively put the game to bed when, after Samuel had been fouled inside the box by Leon King, Chalmers saw his 18th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper Liam Russell.

Although substitute Curtis Main pulled one back for the visitors on the hour, that was as good as it got.

St Johnstone, who have a game in hand, saw their advantage at the top of the table cut after they went down 1-0 at home to Dunfermline.

Robbie Fraser was the Pars’ match-winner, claiming the game’s only goal five minutes after half-time.

Jack Hamilton plundered a hat-trick to help ease Raith to within a point of the top four after a 4-1 demolition of Queen’s Park.

Rovers’ Andy Winter had already hit a post with a 13th-minute header and Hamilton and Ewan Wilson had both gone close when Hamilton opened his account six minutes before the break.

However, keeper Josh Rae denied Josh Fowler an almost immediate equaliser and Josh Mullin took full advantage when he made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time.

Hamilton’s 64th-minute header set him up to complete his treble five minutes later before Seb Drozd pulled one back for the visitors.

Kieran Phillips’ 87th-minute header was enough to haul Ross County from the foot of the table after a 1-0 win at Airdrieonians.

Substitute Phillips struck from Ryan Duncan’s corner to clinch just a second win in seven attempts in all competitions.