Pars 3 Falkirk 1

SUPER Joe Cardle's double helped Dunfermline maintain their unbeaten start to the Championship with victory over nine-man Falkirk.

The in-form winger's strikes, which added to Declan McManus' opener, handed Athletic their first victory over their bitter rivals since 2011.

And, to rub salt into the Bairns' wounds, they saw Craig Sibbald and Lee Miller ordered off in 10 second half minutes as indiscipline crept into Peter Houston's side.

Watch the goalmouth action as #DAFC beat Falkirk 3-1.
Full highlights later today. #COYP pic.twitter.com/OU3JFaeJMY

— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) August 20, 2017

This was a sweet success after the clubs' last meeting ended in acrimonius fashion, with Myles Hippolyte controversially winning a penalty as the Bairns came back from a goal down to win.

That was forgotten by full-time on Saturday however as Allan Johnston's men kept themselves firmly on the coat-tails of early pacesetters Dundee United.

The Pars team had a much more familiar look from the much-changed line-up that faced Arbroath midweek, with Lee Ashcroft, Nat Wedderburn, Dean Shiels, Kallum Higginbotham, Cardle, Callum Smith and McManus all being restored to the starting 11.

Dunfermline are making a fine habit of making a fast start to games and they did that here, striking twice inside the opening 10 minutes.

There were still home supporters trying to make their way into the ground when the hosts struck in the fifth minute with a goal that showcased the confidence oozing out of this Pars team.

Kallum Higginbotham started the move on the halfway line and, while the ball seemed to bounce up and strike his arm and the visitors appealing for a free-kick, the Pars man didn’t hang about, sliding a perfect pass through for McManus to take one touch and calmly slot beyond Robbie Thomson.

There was barely time for the crowd to pause for breath when Dunfermline doubled their advantage with another well-worked goal.

Callum Smith did brilliantly on the right to hold off the attentions of two opponents on the touchline before clipping the ball forward for the impressive Ryan Williamson to run on to.

The full-back had plenty of time and space to look up, spot Cardle making his way into the box and find his mate, who buried it from eight yards.

Falkirk were being carved open almost at will and the post came to their rescue before the half was out when Smith was inches away from making it three after being sent clear by McManus’ delightful pass.

The Bairns came out after the break looking to get back into it but their hopes were all but extinguished in mindless fashion.

After being awarded a free-kick after a Cardle foul, Sibbald inexplicably lashed out at the winger with the referee and his assistant in close proximity, leaving the man in the middle with little choice but to send him off.

Smith then had another good opportunity which he put over before McManus had a tap in from Higginbotham’s low cross harshly ruled out for offside.

That was followed by sub Miller joining Sibbald for an early bath when, having already tangled with Jason Talbot, he threw an elbow at Wedderburn in another moment of madness from the visitors.

Despite that, Falkirk then went on to enjoy their best spell of the game and pulled one back when Taiwo lashed high into the net after Tony Gallagher broke forward and smashed a shot off the post.

But any doubts over whether Dunfermline would claim a first win over their bitter rivals since 2011 were ended in stoppage time when Andy Ryan sent Cardle clear on the left to stroke home his second and clinch the three points.