DUNFERMLINE finished on top of the match and their Betfred group after a penalty win against Premiership opposition Hearts.

The Pars put on an impressive show and were unlucky not to finish the 90 minutes with all the points but a late goal meant the tie went to a penalty decider.

With their second spot kick victory in the competition, they triumphed 3-1 however the success was aided by what appeared to be Heart’s masterclass in how not to take a penalty.

Dunfermline made two changes from their win against Peterhead. Clark and Shiels were ruled out with injuries and were replaced with Nat Wedderburn and Callum Smith.

Athletic started brightly and didn’t look daunted by their Premiership opposition although the Jambos did have the first real attack when Gonclaves went on a strong run however his shot was deflected after a strong tackle from Morris which saw both of them need treatment.

The Pars did have some early ventures towards goal of their own. Callum Smith teed up Joe Cardle in the 18th minute however his effort was blocked.

Dunfermline had the wind blown out of their sails, however, in the 19th minute when they went a goal behind.

Don Cowie found himself with the ball in the box and slotted it comfortably past Murdoch.

More Hearts pressure followed the goal however the large away following were celebrating on the 28 minute mark when Joe Cardle found the equaliser out of no-where.

He got the ball on the edge of the box and beautifully curled it past the Hearts’ keeper.

Lafferty tried to copy Cardle’s effort at the other end a minute later but his effort went flying into the stands.

Playing with an added confidence, great pressure from Cardle on 30 minutes ended in Higginbotham receiving the ball however his long range shot wasn’t a problem for Jack Hamilton.

Hearts had a penalty claim in the 36th minute when Cowie went down easily in the box however referee Craig Thomson was not convinced.

It was Murdoch to the rescue for Dunfermline five minutes before half time when he tipped along range effort round the post for a corner. The Pars goalkeeper’s reactions were on show again for the corner when he palmed the ball away.

The second half saw Dunfermline grow in dominance while Hearts seemed to lose their way. The huge away support were celebrating again on the 51st minute mark when they saw their team go 2-1 up.

Great work by teenager Callum Smith resulted in him laying the ball off for Declan McManus who shot low into Hamilton’s net.

Dunfermline continued to play with a lovely confidence and their passing and movement was making it hard for Hearts to regain any control.

Hearts did have a chance in the 79th minute when Goncalves broke free with the ball in the box but his effort wasn’t a problem for Murdoch.

The home team eventually started to pile the pressure on the Pars in the last ten minutes. Murdoch punched a free kick away to safety in the 82nd minute while an eight-man Pars wall wasn’t tested with a free kick just outside the box a minute later.

On 85 minutes, a Hearts corner was half tipped away by Murdoch and Wedderburn cleared for a corner which was then cleared by Cardle.

The pressure proved too much with four minutes to go when a free kick resulted in the ball going into box and being scrambled in by Gonclaves.

This led to a nail-biting last few minutes for Pars fans as Hearts continued to press and they almost did the unthinkable two minutes into injury time when Stockton found himself with the ball at close range however he fluffed his shot and Dunfermline were able to breath again.

The final whistle brought penalties and despite a miss from McManus, three Hearts misses meant the bonus point belonged to Dunfermline.

Hearts: Hamilton, Smith, Souttar, Berra, Buaben (Stockton, 59), Lafferty, Djoum (Martin, 74), Cowie, McGhee, Brandon, Goncalves.

Subs: Noring, Smith-Brown, Randall, Nowak, Currie.

Goals: Cowie (19), Goncalves (86)

Dunfermline Athletic: Murdoch, Williamson, Martin, Morris, Ashcroft, Higginbotham, Wedderburn, McManus, Cardle (Mvoto 88), Paton, Smith (Lochead 65)

Subs: Gill, Splaine, Talbothie.

Goals: Cardle (28) McManus (51)

Yellow cards: Wedderburn (54), Lochead (86)

Referee: Craig Thomson

Attendance: 8404