ATHLETIC manager James McPake hailed some of his side's play in Saturday's win at FC Edinburgh as "as good as we have been this season".

Craig Wighton's first half goal - a deft finish after a surging run forward from Kyle MacDonald created the chance - proved decisive in the clash of League One's top two.

An eighth goal of the season for the 25-year-old gave Dunfermline their third success from three outings against the capital outfit, and moved them four points clear at the summit with two games in hand.

Matty Todd almost handed the Pars a dream start inside two minutes, heading against the crossbar from MacDonald's whipped cross, while Lewis McCann was unfortunate not to divert Josh Edwards' centre on target.

At the other end, Aaron Comrie was on hand to make a vital clearance as the ball approached the visitors' goal after Kyle Benedictus' attempted clearance ricocheted off Liam Fontaine, before the Pars took the lead.

Deniz Mehmet, having collected a cross, started the moving, throwing the ball wide for MacDonald.

The wing back, picking the ball up on halfway, surged beyond two opponents before playing the ball into the box for Wighton, whose first-time, delicate finish gave Edinburgh keeper, Robbie Mutch, no chance.

Dunfermline continued to press, with Chris Hamilton having an effort saved, before he fired a volley from the edge of the box wide, while MacDonald also had a decent strike saved at the near post.

Pars keeper Mehmet was called into action late on, pulling off a fine stop from Kieran MacDonald, to ensure the spoils headed back across the Forth.

"Yes the result is the positive but some of the play there is as good as we have been this season," McPake said post-match.

"Matthew Todd was unlucky with the header, although he should score, then it was a great ball from Josh (Edwards) for Lewis (McCann). The goal was a great finish; great play. Deniz took the ball quickly and set Macca (Kyle MacDonald) of,f and it was really good forward play from Wighton to finish from a great ball.

"We were a bit wasteful in terms of clear cut chances. Obviously we had Chris (Hamilton)’s in the second half as well and the goalkeeper had a save from Macca. It doesn’t really matter it is three points. Deniz (Mehmet) made a great save but we are used to that.

"I think that we were really comfortable in the game. In the first half we allowed too many crosses from the right side. It was (Innes) Murray, he is a decent player and they were leaving Josh which was causing them problems going the other way. They were getting to put crosses into the box but the defenders defended it really well."

McPake revealed that Rhys Breen took ill pre-match, with Comrie, who he described as "excellent", filling in as a left-sided centre back.

He continued: "I am just pleased to take nine points from Edinburgh this season.

"They are still second, and are our closest challengers, and have been for most of the season. They have been winning a lot of games, and are very consistent in what they do, so to come here and be so comfortable in taking another three points is a credit to the players.

"The first game here (at Meadowbank Stadium against Edinburgh) we were excellent and probably similar to that, we got out of sight. We played the same type of formation and Edinburgh, to their credit, came to East End Park and made themselves really hard to beat. We weren’t quite right on the day; we weren’t as potent at the top end of the pitch that day. It wasn’t even a case of being wasteful; I don’t think we created enough that day.

"In the three games (against FC Edinburgh) we have been allowed to play and we have had lots of the ball. Today has been the best I think in terms of moving it from back to front through the thirds for want of a cliched phrase that everybody seems to be saying.

"I think we built the play really well going through the middle of the pitch. We got a couple of chances from that and we were comfortable in the game but always aware that they can hurt you on the counter attack.

"They have scored 42 goals in this league but none against us. That is a bonus but we had to be alert, like with Deniz’s save. 1-0 is never really comfortable when you are a manager but when we watch it back we will be well worthy of that."

On his team's goal, and its build-up, McPake added: "Yes, it is something that we work on - we do try and play quick.

"We had a lot of pace in that starting eleven today. We can be different, we can have a lot of pace in the team, we can go a bit more direct with the two bigger ones up front.

"We have some good footballers in there and we have been working on building and building quickly which Deniz identified. He went to Kyle, he rides a couple of challenges and then he has the ability to put a great ball in and it was a great finish from Craig Wighton as well.

"He showed a lot of composure just to knock it by the goalkeeper. It was a good goal, the next one would have been Chris Mochrie’s. It was very similar working it from one side of the pitch to the other. The pass maybe came a little slow to Chris but there was some really good stuff in the game which we can clip and show them.

"We have to show them the positives as well."

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Kane Ritchie-Hosler will remain on loan with the club until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old joined from Rangers at the end of September, initially until January, and his time at East End has been extended.

He has made six appearances so far, scoring once.