Raith Rovers 0-2 PARS

NICKY CLARK and Lee Ashcroft were the derby day heroes as Dunfermline began 2017 with an excellent victory at Raith Rovers this afternoon.

Clark’s 11th minute header and Ashcroft’s finish late on secured a vital victory for the Pars over the neighbours and ensured their first footing in Kirkcaldy was a success.

It also hoisted them out of the relegation play-off place ahead of Saturday’s visit to Ayr United and, whilst they had to dig deep in the first half after taking the lead, this was a well-earned success for a visiting team backed by a magnificent 2,845 fans.

Allan Johnston made three changes from the team that drew with Falkirk on Boxing Day.

Kallum Higginbotham returned from suspension in place of Joe Cardle, who dropped to the bench, while Lewis Martin and goalscorer Rhys McCabe missed out as Callum Fordyce and Nat Wedderburn came in.

The returning Higginbotham almost made an immediate impact in the seventh minute, sending a vicious free-kick towards goal after Paul McMullan had been bundled over, but Kevin Cuthbert produced a smart save.

Cuthbert then performed heroics to claw out Lee Ashcroft’s net-bound header, but there was nothing he could do moments later as the Pars went ahead in 11 minutes.

From the resultant corner, Rovers’ marking was non-existent as Higginbotham’s delivery was met gleefully by Clark, who bulleted home a header for his seventh goal of the season.

Rovers responded however and neat play on the right freed Chris Johnston to break into the box along the goalline.

Although Sean Murdoch blocked the initial ball, the ball eventually landed on top of the bar and from the resulting corner, former Par Jason Thomson came close with a header that ended off-target.

Kevin McHattie then tested Murdoch with a shot from the left that the Pars keeper pushed clear, and Johnston was unfortunate not to make more contact with the ball at the edge of the area following a promising Rovers break on the left.

Dunfermline had somewhat of a let-off in the 39th minute.

Higginbotham fouled Bobby Barr close to the corner flag and Jordan Thompson’s whipped delivery caused panic, but the ball eventually bounced kindly for the Pars to clear. The hosts quickly had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.

Higginbotham then sent a sighter wide as the Pars managed a foray forward before Barr and McHattie combined for another effort that sailed over.

Dunfermline however spurned a golden opportunity to double their advantage 10 minutes after the restart.

A free-kick into the area eventually fell into Clark’s path via Higginbotham but, with a static Rovers defence looking for an offside flag, Clark could only hit Cuthbert’s legs from close range.

The game became scrappy and Rovers threw on Ryan Hardie, Ryan Stevenson and Mark Stewart from the bench as time ticked towards the final quarter, but minutes later the Pars doubled their advantage.

Having won a corner from Cuthbert’s near post stop to deny Clark, Higginbotham’s delivery was cleared out to the edge of the box.

The ball was picked up by McMullan, who played it back to the corner taker, who sent a driven ball across the box and it bounced off Ashcroft and trickled into the net.

That proved enough for as a deflated and tired Rovers team were comfortably kept at bay to ensure the Pars took all three points back along the A92.

Raith Rovers: Cuthbert, Thomson, McHattie, Callachan, M’Voto, Johnston, Barr, Davidson, Skacel, McManus, Thompson.

Subs: Stewart, Coustrain, Roberts, Hardie, Barr, Stevenson, Lennox.

Pars: Murdoch, Geggan, Ashcroft, Fordyce, Talbot, McMullan, Herron, Wedderburn, Higginbotham, Moffat, Clark.

Subs: Williamson, Paton, Cardle, Duthie, Reilly, El Alagui, Hutton.

Referee: Don Robertson.

Attendance: 5,899 (2,845 Pars fans).