Dunfermline 1 Falkirk  2 

Dunfermline's 10 men lost a controversial clash with Falkirk after a crazy six minute spell saw the match turned on its head. 

Pars went ahead through Nicky Clark's fine finish but the Bairns levelled in the second half from a hotly disputed penalty and sub Lewis Martin, only on the pitch for three minutes, was then ordered off for a last man tackle. 

The visitors then held the upper hand and went ahead when Nathan Austin headed the winner. 

Allan Johnston's men hadn't beaten the Bairns in the three previous meetings but they bossed the first half and deservedly went in a goal up. 

Falkirk have more important matches ahead with another tilt at promotion to the Premier League looming, but their fans turned up in numbers for this bitter skirmish and wouldn't have been pleased with the display in the opening 45 minutes. 

Inside three minutes Dunfermline skipper Andy Geggan swung in a delivery from the right and fit again Nicky Clark climbed high to win the header but Robbie Thomson held on. 

John Baird carved out a half chance for Falkirk when he floated the ball into the box but Craig Sibbald's glancing header posed no difficulty for Sean Murdoch. 

Pars took to the wings again and a flowing move saw Paul McMullan break down the right and pick out Clark but Thomson threw himself to his right to grab the ball as the striker's downward header threatened to hit the net. 

A fortunate bounce of the ball released David Hopkirk, in from the start after last week's goal at Dumbarton, and his perfect pull back looked set to bring the opening goal but Clark took a heavy touch instead of trying an instant shot and the chance was lost. 

There was a more glaring opportunity wasted in the 28th minute when Hopkirk's superbly weighted pass over the top and McMullan's well timed run gave the winger a clear run on goal. 

McMullan could have lobbed the keeper but chose to stop and cut inside for a more favoured angle, allowing Aaron Muirhead to race back and tackle him. 

But Dunfermline took a deserved lead in the 35th minute when Falkirk failed to clear and the ball bounced along the edge of the box, away from goal. 

Clark instantly swivelled and smashed a low shot across the keeper and into the corner of the Bairns net for a fine strike. 

Athletic were well on top and former Par Mark Kerr was lucky to just be booked for a late tackle on Geggan. 

But what a turnaround in a crazy six minute spell after the break. In the 53rd minute Murdoch and Falkirk sub Myles Hippolyte contested the ball and the latter hit the deck with the ref pointing to the spot. 

The Pars keeper was raging with the decision and he injured himself trying, in vain, to stop Aaron Muirhead's penalty arrowing into the net for an equaliser. 

Murdoch and Callum Morris were subbed, with David Hutton and Martin coming on, and in the 59th minute it all went wrong again for Dunfermline. 

A hopeful ball over the top found Baird the wrong side of Martin and scampering towards goal. The defender seemed to stumble into the back of him but Baird hit the deck and Martin was shown a red card. 

The resulting free kick was slammed into the wall but the rebound fell kindly for Hippolyte who thundered a half volley off Hutton's right hand post. 

Pars 10 men were under the cosh and Falkirk took the lead in the 69th minute when Sibbald was given space to run and deliver a cross from the left that was met by sub Nathan Austin and his downward header gave Hutton no chance. 

Athletic rallied and could have levelled when McCabe's free kick found Geggan at the back post but his header was just too high. 

Hopkirk slammed a half volley into a defender's midriff, after Falkirk failed to clear a corner, and half-hearted penalty claims were waved away. 

Dunfermline showed their character, and the fans got involved too, but they just couldn't find an equaliser.