PARS 3 Queen of the South 1

ATHLETIC gave their play-off hopes a huge shot in the arm by beating Queen of the South to move back into fourth place this afternoon.

Kevin O'Hara's early opener for his 10th goal of the season got things underway, with super sub Fraser Murray adding a second with nine minutes to go.

At the heart of both goals was Dom Thomas, whose shot was saved by Rohan Ferguson into O'Hara's path for the opener, before showing some sublime skill to beat his man and set up the second.

The winger produced a terrific display and, although James Maxwell pulled one back with three minutes left, Dunfermline had the final say when on-loan Celtic midfielder Ewan Henderson netted his first for the club in stoppage time.

The win moves them two points above Inverness with two games to go, although the Highlanders have a game in hand on Tuesday evening against Dundee.

It also ended a run of seven games in all competitions without victory for the Pars, ahead of a home game with Arbroath next week, and a trip to Alloa on the final day.

There was one change to the Athletic line-up that started Tuesday's stalemate with Dundee.

Skipper Euan Murray missed out, believed to be with an injury, as Lewis Mayo came into the starting line-up.

For Queens - whose ex-Pars gaffer, Allan Johnston, and assistant Sandy Clark penned new deals with the club yesterday until the summer of 2023 - there were three ex-Dunfermline men in their team.

Captain Gregor Buchanan, Rhys McCabe and Willie Gibson, who netted the winner in the previous meeting of the teams at Palmerston in January, all started for the Doonhamers.

Crawford lined his side up in a 4-1-3-2 system, with Steven Whittaker sitting in front of the back four, with Kevin O'Hara and Craig Wighton deployed up front.

Dom Thomas, playing on the right, enjoyed some space early on and, just eight minutes in, broke well from halfway before forcing Ferguson into tipping his shot over the top.

However, just sixty seconds later, Dunfermline were in front - and the former Kilmarnock winger was at the heart of it.

He showed some really excellent feet in and around the penalty area to get a strike across goal away, which Ferguson did well to save.

The goalkeeper, however, could only palm it into the path of O'Hara, who had the easy task of tapping in his 10th of the season from less than six yards, despite calls for offside from the Queens' bench.

Thomas was in the mood early on and, moments later, he forced Ferguson into a spectacular save with a fine effort from range that looked destined for the top corner.

Mayo, with a wild effort off-target from the edge of the area, and a far post header from a Thomas corner, had opportunities as Dunfermline continued to threaten, with McManus the next to do so.

O'Hara released him with a fine ball into the area and, as he tried to slot it beyond Ferguson, the Queens keeper stood up well to block with his leg.

Queens had their first meaningful attempt on the half hour when Mebude, from inside his own half, broke forward to shoot from around 20 yards, but Owain Fon Williams saved.

Conor Shields then blasted high soon afterwards as the visitors tried to find a route back into proceedings, who were screaming for a penalty in 37 minutes for what they perceived to be handball as the Pars defended a long McCabe throw.

Referee, David Lowe, and his assistant, however, were unmoved.

There was another huge penalty appeal for the visitors turned down four minutes from the break when Ayo Obileye appeared to have been fouled - which Johnston described as a "headlock" but nothing was given.

Then, on the stroke of the interval, the Pars had Fon Williams to thank for keeping them ahead.

First, he blocked well from Shields after he was played through well by Ciaran Dickson, before he produced an even better save to deny Obileye with an effort that looked goal-bound.

Within the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Wighton had two efforts that could have doubled Dunfermline's advantage.

For the first, he showed some good feet - and had a bit of luck - to make his way into the box and shoot, only for Ferguson to save, while Aaron Comrie fired the rebound wide.

Shortly afterwards, he was played in on the right hand side and, from inside the box, blasted his effort off-target at the near post.

In the 74th minute, there was cause for concern substitute - and Queens talisman - Stephen Dobbie flighted a fine ball over the top for fellow sub Aidan Fitzpatrick to chase.

With Josh Edwards covering, Fon Williams came out to clear, but crashed the ball off his team-mate - who needed treatment - as it went back towards goal but, thankfully, out for a corner.

However, with nine minutes to go, the Pars took advantage of that close call to score a second - and it was Thomas again at its heart.

The winger showed some superb skill to beat his man more than once on the right, eventually leaving him grounded before driving towards the near post.

He fizzed the ball across the goal for Murray who, from around eight yards, found the roof of the net despite the best efforts of the visiting defence to keep it out.

That looked to be that and, although James Maxwell fired in a half-volley at the far post for the visitors with three minutes to go, Dunfermline had the final say.

O'Hara raced on to a high ball forward and knocked it beyond Ferguson, who had rushed way out of his goal.

Although he was too wide to shoot, O'Hara laid it off to Thomas, who in turn picked out Henderson, who slotted in his first Pars goal to seal a hugely important win.

Pars: Fon Williams, Comrie, Mayo, Gaspuitis, Edwards, Wighton (McInroy 80), Henderson, Whittaker, Thomas, McManus (F. Murray 56), O'Hara.

Subs: MacDonald, McCann, Allan, Todd, Gill.

Goals: O'Hara (10), F. Murray (81), Henderson (90).

Queen of the South: Ferguson, Maxwell, Buchanan, Obileye (Pybus 77), Shields, McCabe, Breen, Jones (Dobbie 60), Dickson (Fitzpatrick 60), Awokya-Mebude, Gibson.

Subs not used: Nortey, East, Joseph, Leighfield.

Goal: Maxwell (87).

Referee: David Lowe.