PARS 4 Peterhead 0

ATHLETIC are seven points clear at the top of League One after a comfortable win over Peterhead this afternoon.

Craig Wighton's ninth goal of the season, and his fifth in sixth games, gave James McPake's league leaders the advantage, before a Matthew Todd curler made it 2-0 by half-time.

Josh Edwards' late third, added to by substitute Kevin O'Hara making his first appearance since September after injury, gave the Pars a comprehensive fourth successive victory with his first goal of the season.

Assistant boss, Dave Mackay, praised his side afterwards for their "professional" display, and felt that the Pars moved the ball well, and quickly, in trying conditions.

With FC Edinburgh losing at Alloa, and Falkirk defeating Clyde, Dunfermline are seven points clear of both clubs, having played the same number of matches - 20 - as the Bairns, and two more than the capital side.

Dunfermline boss McPake made just one alteration to the team that started last weekend's win at FC Edinburgh, with Chris Mochrie promoted from the bench to replace Lewis McCann, who was amongst the substitutes.

Also amongst them was Rhys Breen, who made a welcome return to the squad after missing the capital success with a sickness bug.

Peterhead had never won a competitive game at East End - their only such win over Dunfermline was a home one, in League One, in 2015 - and arrived bottom of the table.

With Athletic sitting pretty at the top, you'd have anticipated the odds would be in the home team's favour and, after a scrappy start, those shortened after only 17 minutes when they took the lead.

It was a lovely goal, too, and well-worked on the left hand side, between Aaron Comrie and Josh Edwards initially, before Mochrie got on the ball.

Then Dundee United loanee sent a fine pass into the box for Wighton who, with aplomb, tucked away a lovely, first-time finish for his ninth goal of the season.

Although the hosts were largely in control from then on in the first period, it was occasionally scrappy, but lit up with their second goal.

Kyle MacDonald was the creator on the right, playing a low ball across the penalty area, where it was left for Todd.

The midfielder looked up and, with pin-point accuracy, sent a superb curling effort into the top corner for his seventh goal of the season.

It was the sort of scoreline you'd hoped, and perhaps predicted, that the Pars would find, but Peterhead, who didn't trouble their goal at all, had the first effort after the restart when Daniel Fosu fired not too far over.

Wighton, though, should have added a third for Dunfermline shortly afterwards, shooting wide of the near post from eight yards after being played through, before Edwards showed great feet to go one way, then the other, away from opponents inside the box and shoot, with Peterhead keeper, Tom Ritchie, beat away.

An even better chance presented itself just short of the hour mark - and showcased Dunfermline's quality on the counter.

From a Peterhead corner, Jordan Brown's blocked shot led to Mochrie racing forward on the right at break-neck speed.

He skipped over one challenge as he drove to the edge of the penalty area, where he pulled the ball across the box.

Wighton cleverly dummied it for Todd, whose shot from around 12 yards agonisingly went the wrong side of the post.

Both Fosu, and Jack Wilkie, had efforts deflected off target as the Blue Toon attempted to find a way back into the game, but Dunfermline added a third inside the last 15 minutes.

Mochrie was again the architect, picking out Edwards with a lovely run and pass, with the full back sending the ball emphatically high into the top corner at the near post.

The hosts quickly had the ball in the net again, only for the referee to rule it out for an infringement, before substitute, Nikolay Todorov, headed over the bar.

With two minutes to go, the Pars put added gloss on a comfortable afternoon with a fourth goal.

Substitute Robbie Mahon did the hard work, showing good skill to skip away from his opponent and into the box, before driving the ball towards goal.

Ritchie couldn't keep it out and, although the PA system gave it to Mahon, O'Hara, from a yard out, tapped in for his first goal of the season to round off a fine afternoon's work.

Pars: Mehmet, Fisher, Benedictus, Comrie, MacDonald, Edwards (Mahon 80), Hamilton, Chalmers (Todorov 80), Mochrie (O'Hara 77), Wighton (McCann 77), Todd (Ritchie-Hosler 77).

Subs not used: Breen, Fenton, Young, Little.

Goals: Wighton (17), Todd (36), Edwards (76), O'Hara (88).

Booked: Todd (24).

Peterhead: Ritchie, Bisland, Brown, Joshua, McDonald, McCarthy, R.Strachan (Jordan Brown 45), Gabriel (McLeod 68), Fosu, Shanks (Melingui 54), Wilkie.

Subs not used: Wood, Walusimbi, Wilson, D.Strachan, Jack Brown.

Booked: Fosu (31), Jason Brown (85).

Referee: Chris Graham.

Attendance: 4,024.

Meanwhile, Kelty Hearts are seven points adrift of fourth-top Alloa Athletic despite fighting back to draw with Airdrieonians.

Adam Frizzell gave the Diamonds a first half lead, but Jamie Barjonas' second half leveller preserved a point for John Potter's side, who are 18 points clear of second bottom Clyde.

We'll have full reaction in this week's Press Sport.