Dunfermline 3 Hearts 1

Dunfermline stretched their lead over Hearts in third place with a spirited fightback at East End Park to beat their league rivals 3-1.

After a hard-fought but goalless first half, a Scott Severin thunderbolt from 30 yards broke the deadlock in 53 minutes and looked to have set the visitors up for the victory which would have leapfrogged them into third spot.

But the Pars refused to buckle, fought their way back into the game and goals from Barry Nicholson, Lee Bullen and Stevie Crawford gave them a well deserved victory.

Both sides went into the game in good spirits courtesy of fine midweek wins but it was Hearts who started the better and came close after only two minutes.

Following an Alan Maybury throw-in on the right, striker Gary Wales drove a low shot from just inside the box which Dunfermline stand-in keeper Derek Stillie did well to save at the expense of a corner.

Moments later the home side survived a good penalty claim when defender Scott Wilson appeared to handle whilst lying on the ground but referee Mike McCurry waved play on.

At the other end, Craig Brewster released Barry Nicholson into acres of space with a great pass but the former Rangers player failed to find Crawford with his cross and the danger was cleared.

The Edinburgh men always looked the more dangerous and in the 25th minute they nearly got the breakthrough following good play on the left by Jean-Louis Valois.

The Frenchman easily beat Scott Thomson, reached the byline but his cut-back was flicked inches past the near post by the unlucky Wales.

Then lanky Jambos defender Kevin McKenna headed a Valois corner just over the crossbar before midfielder Scott Severin's netbound header hit his own player Andy Kirk on the line before being cleared.

For the visitors, Crawford had a good chance but was foiled just inside the box by McKenzie who was sharp off his line.

After the break, the home side came out keen to stamp their authority on the game but found the Hearts defence, marshalled by Steven Pressley, well organised and equally determined.

And there was no real surprise when the visitors took the lead. Severin picked up a loose ball 30 yards from goal and out of the blue, drove a glorious low shot past Stillie and into the corner of the net. It was a goal of supreme quality.

Dunfermline were stunned and tried desperately to battle their way back into the game. But it was the home side who came close again on the hour mark when Stamp tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the box only to see the ball float wide of the left hand post.

Hearts manager Craig Levein added to his aerial threat in the 63rd minute when he introduced Mark De Vries for Andy Kirk.

The home side, encouraged by their fans, continued to pound away at the Hearts defence and in the 64th minute were rewarded with the equaliser.

Midfielder Barry Nicholson took a pot-shot from 25 yards and looked in delight as the ball took a wicked deflection before looping over McKenzie.

Then Brewster missed a great chance to give the home side the lead when he hesitated with only McKenzie to beat, allowing the keeper to knock the ball away to safety.

The battling home side were now on top and they took the lead in the 75th minute with a stunning goal. A long Jason Dair pass found Lee Bullen just inside the Hearts box and the midfielder took a touch before sending a screamer past McKenzie and into the top corner.

In the final moments, with the visitors caught out, Crawford beat three Hearts players and slammed the ball into the corner of the net to make it 3-1.

Teams

Dunfermline Stillie, Dair, McGroarty (Dempsey 63), Skerla, Scott Thomson (Mason 55), Scott Wilson, Bullen, Nicholson, Kilgannon (Walker 79), Crawford, Brewster.

Subs Not Used: MacPherson, Scott Y Thomson.

Booked: Scott Wilson.

Goals: Nicholson 65, Bullen 76, Crawford 90.

Hearts McKenzie, Maybury, McMullan (Weir 81), McKenna, Pressley, Webster, Stamp (Janczyk 70), Severin, Valois, Kirk (de Vries 63), Wales.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, McCann.

Booked: Webster.

Goals: Severin 53.

Att: 4,800

Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com