Dunfermline Athletic 4, Forfar Athletic 0.

Dunfermline made it through to the next stage of the Scottish Cup after a convincing four goal win at the hands of Forfar Athletic.

James McPake’s men were looking to progress to the fourth round of the competition having failed at the first hurdle for the last four seasons.

They had won all four of their previous ties against their league two opposition who are currently bottom of their division and didn’t look troubled during the latest clash.

There was one change to the starting line-up from last weekend’s win against Peterhead. Loanee Kane Ritchie-Hosler came into make his debut while Nicolay Todorov dropped down to the bench.

The debutant didn’t take long to settle in and caused trouble for Forfar throughout the tie.

He could have grabbed an opened just after the ten minute mark but his header from Joe Chalmers’ chipped cross went safely into the arms of Forfar keeper Marc McCallum.

It wasn’t long before he was involved again when the Pars won a free kick from just outside the box after Ritchie-Hosler was felled.

Sam Fisher produced a decent low drive which was put round the post for a corner.

Forfar had had a chance just before when Stefan McCluskey curled in a shot from the edge of the box but his effort went over.

Dunfermline eventually got their much-deserved break-through on 26 minutes. Aaron Comrie did well to get past Tomas Brindley and squeezed in a ball to Craig Wighton who netted from close range.

There was more Pars pressure minutes later. Ritchie-Hosler got onto the end of clearance and found Matty Todd.

His cross was cleared and came out to Ritchie-Hosler who crossed to Todd who headed over.

On 33 minutes, the loan star made it 2-0 when the ball came to him in the box after good work between him and Matty Tood. He smashed the ball into the back of the net to double the Pars’ lead.

It was three nil just minutes before half time. Hosler-Ritchie was involved again when he put the ball through to Edwards who didn’t hesitate to get himself on the scoresheet.

Dunfermline had another chance after 50 minutes when Ritchie-Hosler put Wighton through after a dazzling run into the box but the ball was cleared.

Substitute Nikolay Todorov went for glory just minutes later but his volley on the edge of the box went wide.

Craig Wighton got his second goal on 70 minutes. He followed a Todorov effort and placed a cheeky chip past McCallum to make it four.

Pars didn’t seem to take their foot off the gas and Chris Mochrie tried to add to the score sheet soon after.

Having won a free kick, the ball came to him from the set piece and he blasted in a long-range shot which was parried by the Forfar keeper and eventually went out for a throw.

The visitors had a rare foray on goal in the dying minutes but Mark Docherty’s curling shot from distance went wide.

Second later, Todorov had a go from the edge of the box but his shot went just wide.

Dunfermline Athletic Mehmet, Comrie, Edwards (Macdonald 65), Benedictus, Chalmers, Wighton, Mochrie (Sutherland 81), Breen, Fisher, Ritchie-Hosler (Todorov 52), Todd (Hamilton 65).

Subs: Little, Young, Tod, Hoggam.

Goals: Wighton (26, 70), Ritchie-Hosler (33), Edwards (41).

Forfar Athletic

McCallum, Nditi, Brindley (Flanagan 39) , Whyte (Docherty 68), Hutton, Aitken, Slater (Hussain 68), McCluskey, Munro, Dailly, Jack.

Subs: Thomson, Ferguson, , Armour, Abed, Hanratty, Ross.

Yellow card: Jack, Munro