Ayr tuned out a chaotic build-up to secure another vital three points against Dunfermline.
The Pars spent two hours stuck on the M8 as Storm Bert tore through Central Scotland, plunging the Somerset clash into the balance.
With the Fifers limping towards Ayrshire, their pleas for a lengthy delay to kick off fell on deaf ears as league officials stood firm and granted just 45 minutes.
That sparked fury among the travelling camp, whose boss James McPake slammed SPFL bosses for their handling of the day.
But Ayr took care of business on the pitch once the game finally got going at 3.45pm and notched a second win on the spin as they continued their return to form.
Scott Brown stuck with the same side which beat Queen’s Park last week and Ayr looked the better side from the off.
They suffered an early injury blow when Mark McKenzie hobbled off with a pulled hamstring – but his replacement Dylan Watret was to have a massive impact on the right hand side.
Watret, hot on the heels of his scoring performance for the Scotland under 19s last week, injected pace and attacking intent for Ayr and he was at the heart of all their best play before half time.
Connor McLennan twice went close before the break as United probed for the opener before George Oakley missed a good chance just after half time when sending a Watret cross straight at the keeper.
But they finally got the goal their pressure deserved when Jay Henderson thundered home a brilliant strike from the edge of the box with 20 minutes to go.
It was no more than their performance deserved and boss Brown said: “Dunfermline never looked like they were going to score and had one shot on goal. We coped with what went on before the game really well and the main thing was the performance.
“I gave the lads a challenge after East Kilbride and they’ve come through it exceptionally, which sets us up for the cup game against Morton now.”