The Pars team selection was the same 14 as appeared at McDiarmid Park last Saturday. Hibs were looking for their first win in nine games.

Dunfermline went ahead after 17 minutes and never looked like losing after that. Hibs allowed the ball to be headed about their own penalty box with Barnett, Tod and Britton nodding on in succession for Andy SMITH to head the ball over the line from close range.
Even in the first half the Pars had the opportunity to bury Hibs with Gerry Britton being denied the best chance by Gottskalksson.

When Bobby Tait is the whistler you are usually struggling to understand the decisions but he had no alternative but to send off Willie Miller in the 57th minute. Miller was lucky still to be on the park for he had been kicking Gerry Britton in the first half, inciting the home support in the North Stand; he picked up a yellow card for a vicious tackle on George Shaw 4 minutes into the second half but then only 8 minutes later he demonstrated fine goalkeeping skills as he reached up and caught a crossfield ball that was soaring out of play. He walked before the referee had produced the cards.

An injury to Darren Dods reduced Hibs to nine men for five minutes but the Pars could not cash in. Andy Smith controlled the ball beat two player and the goalie but his shot fell just wide to the left of the goal. Andy Tod burst all the way from his own defence and tested the keeper. Stewart Petrie egged on by the crowd was the next to bear in on goal to no effect.

The second goal that had seemed on the cards for so long came in the 81st minute. Dave Bingham collected a through ball on the left just inside the Hibs half back heeled to Petrie who crossed to French. Hamish found Andy Smith wide on the right and with Harry Curran racing through on a decoy run, big ANDY SMITH cut into the penalty box and smashed in his second.

Right on full time Steve Crawford spoiled Westie’s well earned shut out, but by that time the points could not be denied from the Athletic who stay 5th.

Barnett, Smith and Britton played very well but still the lack of control of the first touch is a common failing in this side.

DUNFERMLINE: Ian Westwater, Greg Shields, Ivo Den Bieman, Andy Tod, Dave Barnett, Sergio Duarte, G Shaw (Stewart Petrie 70), Harry Curran, Andy Smith (Allan Moore 84), Hamish French, Gerry Britton (David Bingham 77)
Scorer: Smith (17, 81)
Yellow cards: Barnett, Duarte
Referee Bobby Tait (East Kilbride)
Attendance 6952
League position 5th

Next game v Aberdeen (home) 22nd November