Dunfermline 3 Brechin City 1

FAISSAL El Bakhtaoui grabbed his first career hattrick to fire Dunfermline to the League One title with a 3-1 win over Brechin.

East End Park erupted in celebration as the Pars clinched the title with five games to spare, thanks to Cowdenbeath’s surprise 1-0 win over Peterhead.

El Bakhtaoui scored twice in the first half, before hammering home an absolute cracker seconds before the final whistle to see Dunfermline crowned champions in style.

With Dunfermline already having one hand on the trophy and Brechin desperately trying to avoid relegation, there was plenty at stake for both sides, and the atmosphere was electric as the teams took to the pitch.

Within 45 seconds, Dunfermline had their first chance of the game, El Bakhtaoui poaching the ball for a right-footed bicycle kick that was saved by Graeme Smith.

However, Brechin got off to a poor start, as player-manager Darren Dods had to come off after just five minutes, to be replaced by Euan Smith.

Just two minutes later, Dunfermline were in front. El Bakhtaoui’s zinger was kept in play after going past the left post, but the French-Moroccan then received a well-timed pass from Ryan Wallace to poke it into the net. 1-0.

Brechin could have levelled in the next minute, Robert Thomson storming up the left to pick out Craig Molloy, who then laid up Jamie Robson. However, the shot was blocked and Sean Murdoch easily scooped.

David Hopkirk then carved out two fantastic opportunities in a minute. Showing off some impressive dribbling down the left, he dragged the ball into the centre of the box. Smith stuck his foot out to save it, but Hopkirk ended up heading over the bar.

The ball continued to be kept in Brechin’s half as Dunfermline piled on the pressure. Following a foul on El Bakhtaoui, Wallace’s 20th-minute free kick from just outside the box looped over the bar.

A minute later, Ben Richards-Everton showed off some fancy footwork against two defenders before crossing the ball right across the face of goal.

Dunfermline’s second goal came on 23 minutes. A precision pass from Jason Talbot; El Bakhtaoui’s right foot in the centre of the box; 2-0.

The Pars were cruising, but then seemed to take their eye off the ball. Out of nowhere, a ball booted into the Dunfermline half dropped for an unmarked Thomson to thump it in and claw one back on 25 minutes.

Murdoch was then forced into a series of two-handed saves from a buoyant Brechin. Andy Jackson’s fizzing attempt on 28 minutes from just five yards out could have levelled the game; a second effort was thwarted on 35 minutes.

Liam Watt also had two good chances, sending the ball right at Murdoch on 38 minutes, then booting it past the left post four minutes later.

A free kick by Michael Paton, which came to nothing, ended the first half. By this time, East End Park was already abuzz with the news that Cowdenbeath were a goal up against Peterhead.

The excitement ramped up a notch just five minutes after the restart as Dunfermline created two stunning chances. Craig Reid played it in for Wallace, whose shot ricocheted against the bar, and from the rebound El Bakhtaoui whizzed it at Smith from close-range.

Smith was then booked for taking too long to place the ball for a goal kicks. Brechin felt even harder done by a minute later – following a goalmouth scamble, Brechin scored, but the goal was disallowed as Andy Geggan was fouled.

A Richards-Everton foul on 65 minutes resulted in a free kick taken by Willie Dyer, but his 25-yard effort just skimmed the bar.

Michael Moffat than laid up El Bakhtaoui on 69 minutes, but the striker fell right in the middle of the box.

Brechin pegged Dunfermline back for the next 10 or so minutes, but on 82 minutes an unmarked Paton’s bid at goal went right at Smith.

Paul-Joseph Crossan subbed Hopkirk with three minutes left on the clock, and with seconds before the final whistle, fed El Bakhtaoui to scissor-kick it in from the centre of the box to make it 3-1 and send East End Park wild. A fitting finish indeed!