Ayr United 0-2 PARS

PARS made it eight games unbeaten in all competitions on Saturday as two first half goals saw off Ayr United.

Nicky Clark and Andy Geggan were on the scoresheet as Dunfermline made it two wins in a row on the road and moved them further clear of relegation danger.

Allan Johnston's team are now five points clear of the Honest Men, who sit ninth, and 12 clear of this weekend's opponents St Mirren, who are rooted to the foot of the table.

The promotion play-offs are looking a more realistic prospect now for Athletic, who are just six points behind fourth-top Falkirk.

Unsurprisingly, Johnston named an unchanged team from the one that beat Raith Rovers at Somerset Park, but welcomed Lewis Martin and Rhys McCabe back on to the bench.

Although Ayr fashioned early chances through Alan Forrest, Gary Harkins and Nicky Devlin, it was the Pars who went ahead in 26 minutes.

A fine passing move involving Paul McMullan, John Herron, Kallum Higginbotham and Michael Moffat saw the latter pick out the run of Talbot on the left.

The full-back's first-time effort didn't make its way towards goal but instead fell kindly for Clark, who reacted well to turn in his eighth of the season from 12 yards.

Dunfermline doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Higginbotham's corner was challenged in the air by Geggan.

Although grounded, the midfielder quickly found his feet as the ball dropped to lash a shot beyond Greg Fleming and into the far corner of the net.

Clark and Higginbotham had further chances to score before the interval as Athletic ended the half strongly, but Sean Murdoch was forced into action by making a good save to deny Jamie Adams five minutes into the second period.

Lee Ashcroft was denied a third Pars goal by a clearance from the line by Robbie Crawford, while Forrest sent an effort off target from inside the area.

Although substitutes Joe Cardle and Gavin Reilly spurned chances to add to the tally, Dunfermline saw the game out comfortably to maintain their perfect start to the new year.