Westmeath made it five wins from five in Division Three to boost their promotion hopes and end Antrim's at Corrigan Park on Sunday.
In the end, Dessie Dolan's side were just more clinical as they took most of what they created, while Antrim will look back with regrets as they kicked some poor wides and saw three big goal chances come and go in a game that came down to fine margins.
Westmeath were able to punish the errors and open a bit of a gap in the second period they would maintain and this win leaves them well placed in the promotion hunt, while Antrim with three straight defeats are now looking over their shoulder.
It was a cagey opening five minutes before Eunan Walsh started a superb Antrim move out from the back and continued his run to get on the end of it, only to be denied by Westmeath goalkeeper Jason Daly who saved out for a 45.
Michael Byrne missed the kick but redeemed himself with a great save from Jonathan Lynam at the other end.
Ronan Boyle finally broke the deadlock with a point for the hosts after eight minutes but Senan Baker tied it up from a free.
The visitors seemed to take a bit of a grip with two quick scores, but a Dominic McEnhill brace including a beauty from play tied it up once again.
The Saffrons would create another goal chance but Marc Jordan had his effort stopped on the line by David Lynch.
Kavan Keenan edged hosts ahead from a tight angle but Westmeath get back on terms immediately and they would take a 0-05 to 0-04 lead into the break after Danny McCartan weaved his way into space to score as Antrim were left to rue half a dozen first-half wides.
Westmeath enjoyed plenty of the ball straight after the break with the extended move finished by Conor Dillon, while Ronan O'Toole added another.
But Antrim remained in the hunt with Michael Byrne and Dermott McAleese kicking scores before Danny and Sam McCartan popped up at the other end.
The margin was four on 58 minutes when Antrim were again denied as a quick free released Marc Jordan who played in McEnhill and the corner-forward seemed to do everything right as he steadied but saw his shot crash off the bar.
He and Declan Lynch would kick points, but Westmeath would find the response through Andy McCormack and Kieran Martin with the insurance scores coming from Lynam who cancelled out Conor Hand's free to seal a huge win for Westmeath in their quest for promotion.
Antrim: Michael Byrne (0-01, 1f); John Morgan, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan (0-01); Declan Lynch (0-01), Jospeh Finnegan, Dermot McAleese (0-01); Colm McLarnon, Conor Hand (0-01, 1f); Ronan Boyle (0-01), Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann (Creggan); Marc Jordan, Pat Shivers, Dominic McEnhill (0-03, 2f)
Subs: Niall Burns for P Shivers (52), Liam McLarnon for D McEnhill (70+1).
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Kevin Maguire, Charlie Drumm, Jonathan Lynam (0-02); Daniel Scahill, Ronan Wallace (0-01), Nigel Harte; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack (0-01); David Lynch (0-01), Ronan O'Toole (0-01), Sam McCartan (0-01); Senan Baker (0-02, 2f), Conor Dillon (0-01), Danny McCartan (0-02, 1f).
Subs: Kieran Martin (0-01) for S Baker (49), Matthew Whittaker for R Wallace (55), James Dolan for N Harte (55), Eoin Mulvihill for C Drumm (58), Stephen Smith for D McCartan (68)
Referee: Fintan Pierce (Offaly)
