Dunfermline defeat Stenhousemuir in Premier Sports Cup

IN-FORM Athletic made it three wins from four in the Premier Sports Cup against Stenhousemuir this afternoon to seal progression to the knockout stages.

A double from Craig Wighton, sandwiched between Kevin O'Hara's second of the season, had the home side three goals ahead and cruising at the break.

O'Hara then completed his brace four minutes after the break and, although substitute Robert Thomson pulled a goal back, Peter Grant's men convincingly moved onto nine points in Group H.

St Mirren, who also have nine, and Partick Thistle, who have six, meet tomorrow and the group winners - plus the three best runners-up in all eight sections - will progress to the last 16, where holders St Johnstone, Rangers, Celtic, Hibernian and Aberdeen will join the competition.

For boss Peter Grant, it was another fine show of attacking football, with his team now having scored 13 goals in just four outings in this competition.

Tougher tests lie ahead, with their Championship campaign kicking off at Morton next Saturday, but with his three strikers - Wioghton, O'Hara and Nikolay Todorov - all hitting the net so far this season, the addition of further attacking options such as debutants Reece Cole and Kai Kennedy, and the sparkling form of wing backs Kyle MacDonald and Josh Edwards, will give the 1,570 supporters inside East End reasons to be optimistic for the forthcoming season.

There were three changes made by Grant to the Pars starting line-up which defeated Dumbarton last week.

New signing, Reece Cole, replaced Paul Allan for his debut, while Owain Fon Williams started in goal ahead of Deniz Mehmet, and Vytas Gaspuitis came into the defence for Paul Watson.

Kai Kennedy, who completed his season-long loan switch from Rangers on Thursday, was named amongst the substitutes.

The Warriors travelled across the Kincardine Bridge featuring three ex-Pars players in their side; popular midfielder, Nat Wedderburn, Ross Forbes and Cammy Graham, who is happily back playing following a cancer scare earlier this year.

Within the opening two minutes, the hosts had a decent opportunity through Wighton, who did well to move away from his marker inside the box, but David Wilson saved his shot well on the angle from around eight yards.

However, with 15 minutes on the clock, the Dunfermline number nine wasn't to be denied as he gave his team the lead.

Aaron Comrie, having cut infield, showed great strength and tenacity to beat Wedderburn to the ball and, having won the challenge, slid a lovely ball through for Wighton to latch onto.

The former Hearts hitman, who turned his loan in the second half of last term into a permanent move this summer, beat the visitors' offside trap before dinking a lovely finish over the advancing Wilson for his second goal in as many games.

A purposeful start from the hosts almost got even better moments later when Todorov sent a good effort wide, while only a superb sliding challenge from Nicholas Jamieson inside the area denied Cole the chance of a debut goal.

Wedderburn had the Warriors' first sight of goal, shooting high and wide at the far post, but it was the Pars who continued to control and dictate proceedings, with only a fine stop from Wilson denying Edwards on the turn.

Todorov and skipper Dom Thomas then both had efforts blocked by maroon jerseys as the home side continued to probe, and in the 36th minute, were rewarded.

It came in bizarre fashion as, in trying to deal with a ball over the top, Jamieson ushered the ball back to Wilson, whose clearance cannoned off his team-mate.

The ball spun to the right of the Stenny box where Todorov picked it up, spotted O'Hara in oceans of space at the far post, who had the easiest task of tapping into an empty net.

Edwards, terrific in the opening 45, almost had a goal himself after a brilliant burst into the box and dink over Wilson, which didn't quite have the legs to hit the net, but he was at the heart of Dunfermline's third when it arrived just before the break.

He started the move, sending O'Hara racing away down the left with a fine pass, and continued his run into the box.

O'Hara, though, picked out Todorov with his centre, who in turn laid it off to Wighton, who squeezed the ball into the net in the midst of bodies flying everywhere in desperation to keep it out.

Three goals to the good, Grant gave Wighton the rest of the afternoon off, introducing Kennedy for his debut, and within four minutes, Dunfermline were as many goals up.

Edwards again was involved, this time doing brilliantly to nod a far post cross back into the path of O'Hara, who calmly side-footed home beyond the helpless Wilson in the Warriors' net.

It was one-way traffic and, after Vytas Gaspuitis had a header saved, and Edwards saw a shot blocked, Dom Thomas forced Wilson into a fine stop with a good effort from outside the box.

A raft of substitutions arrived in the 64th minute and, within minutes, the two who came on for the visitors combined for a consolation goal.

In a rare foray forward, James Lyon embarked on a fine run down the left and sent an excellent ball across the box for Robert Thomson, who slotted away well beyond Owain Fon Williams, who had been a virtual spectator throughout.

Kennedy then had the fans on their feet with a terrific run, showing great feet, to ghost past opponent after opponent before he looked to have been taken down in the box.

Referee Kevin Clancy was unmoved but, at the other end, he was forced to card Lyon for a dive as he looked to win his side a spot-kick.

The on-loan Rangers winger was getting into the groove and hung a fine cross up for MacDonald at the far post, but his downward header was unfortunate to finish over the top.

Dunfermline, though, had done enough on another positive afternoon.

Pars: Fon Williams, MacDonald, Comrie, Gaspuitis, Graham, Edwards, Cole (Pybus 64), Thomas (Allan 76), Wighton (Kennedy 45), O'Hara (Todd 86), Todorov.

Subs not used: Fenton, Mehmet.

Goals: Wighton (15, 43), O'Hara (36, 49) Stenhousemuir: Wilson, Crighton, Jamieson, Coll (Reid 45), Wedderburn, Forbes (Anderson 64), Christie, Graham (Mills 45), Brown, O'Reilly (J.Lyon 45), Orr (Thomson 64).

Subs not used: Hughes, Tierney, R.Lyon, Marshall.

Goal: Thomson (67).

Booked: Lyon (71).

Referee: Kevin Clancy.

Attendance: 1,570.