DUNFERMLINE'S difficult start to their League One campaign continued on Saturday as they fell to defeat at Forfar Athletic.

Second half goals from Dale Hilson and Darren Dods condemned Jim Jefferies' side to their first competitive loss of the season as the Pars' wretched Station Park record continued.

The pre-season title favourites have only secured one point from a possible six but, perhaps of greater concern, they have failed to hit the back of the net so far.

There were four changes from the side that drew with Brechin City on the opening weekend. Out went Ross Forbes, Ross Drummond, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and the injured Gregor Buchanan, who made way for Josh Falkingham, Alex Whittle, Gozie Ugwu and Jonathan Page.

A pretty even first half saw both sides trade chances. Gavin Swankie failed to test Ryan Scully for Forfar as early as the third minute before Jonathan Page should have done better with a header wide of the post from a Ross Millen cross.

Play quickly moved back to the other end and former Par Chris Templeman sent a header over the bar.

It was Athletic though who created the best chance in the opening 45 minutes. Michael Moffat sent Ugwu scampering clear of the Loons centre backs but, under pressure from Michael Dunlop, he could only send the ball wide with only Rab Douglas to beat.

Andy Geggan then drew a good block out of the veteran shot-stopper before Stephen Husband, who left Dunfermline in the summer, sent a deflected drive over the bar for the home side.

Falkingham tried his luck from distance but Douglas comfortably saved, before the midfielder sent Ugwu clear again on the half hour but the Pars striker failed to control the ball and the chance was lost.

Both teams continued to trade chances after the break, with Hilson and Shaun Byrne each going close, before Dunfermline had another good opportunity to take the lead on 53 minutes.

Good play between Byrne and Moffat saw the midfielder find substitute Ross Drummond on the left, who thumped a fierce strike at goal. Douglas did well to block but produced an even better block from Moffat on the rebound to deny the Pars the opener.

And they were made to pay just five minutes later. Dangerman Hilson picked the ball up for Forfar 28 yards from goal, and his excellent low drive found the bottom corner of the diving Scully's net.

The Pars responded but Millen's effort from range over the bar was as close as they came before the Loons sealed the points. The visiting defence were posted missing as Dods capitalised on poor marking to head home James Dale's free-kick for the simplest of goals.

El Bakhtaoui replaced Ugwu and looked lively, forcing Douglas into two smart stops. Pars' day was summed up late on when Lewis Spence sent in a cross that eluded everyone but bounced off the post.

Pars: Scully, Millen, Whittle (Drummond 45), Martin, Page, Geggan, Byrne (Thomson 63), Spence, Moffat, Ugwu (El Bakhtaoui 77), Falkingham.

Subs not used: Forbes, Stirling, Williamson, Goodfellow.

Goals: Hilson (58), Dods (73).