Queen of the South 0 PARS 2

CAPTAIN Kyle Benedictus has said he can't claim the second goal that sealed Athletic's win at Queen of the South yesterday.

James McPake's League One leaders were a goal to the good at Palmerston, thanks to Craig Wighton's first half opener, when the centre back challenged for Joe Chalmers' corner two minutes into the second half.

The final touch, however, came off Queens' Josh Todd, and sealed a 10th win from 13 games on the road for the Pars.

It preserves their five point lead at the top over Falkirk, who came back to win at Airdrieonians, and Benedictus said post-match: "“It was an own goal.

"It wasn’t my goal, unless it has hit a strand of my hair, then I’d claim it! When the ball came in Todd was marking me and we both just went for the ball. He got there first and in trying to defend it smacked against the bar and it went in, so it was a good finish from him.

"I will not claim it. I like to get goals because I’m a defender, but I can’t claim things that are not mine!

"We are delighted to come here, get another clean sheet, three points and to come down here twice and win 2-0 both times is very pleasing."

Chris Mochrie and Nikolay Todorov both had opportunities for Dunfermline before they opened the scoring, with 20 minutes on the clock.

Aaron Comrie's first time pass, with the outside of his boot, allowed Kane Ritchie-Hosler to run in between two home defenders and pull the ball back to Wighton.

After taking a touch to control, the Pars number nine sent a low finish into the bottom right corner of the net to score his 12th goal of the season.

Matty Todd and Mochrie had other efforts for the Pars, whose keeper, Deniz Mehmet, was needed to save from Todd and Connor Murray, before the former's own goal doubled the visitors' lead.

Paul McGowan, who joined on loan from Dundee ahead of the match, was given his debut as a second half substitute, after which Wighton saw a goal ruled out for a foul by Todorov in the build-up.

Dunfermline, though, had done enough, and McPake commented: "“When I spoke through the week, we knew that it was a tough place to come.

"Going back to my playing career it was always tough coming down here and even managing my previous club. We had a hard game down here with the same result earlier in the season and when Queen of the South came to KDM Group East End Park they were excellent that day, under different managership obviously then.

"I have enjoyed watching what Marvin (Bartley) has done, he is someone that I know pretty well and he has got them now building and playing out from the back.

"That did cause us a bit of problems today, so credit to them but, on the balance of the game, we did deserve to win it."

Meanwhile, Kelty Hearts saw their bid to put pressure on the teams above them in the chase for a promotion play-off place stall after being held to a draw at Peterhead.

Lewis Martin's first goal for the club gave John Potter's side a 24th minute lead at Balmoor, but Jack Wilkie's equaliser on the stroke of half time earned the bottom side a share of the spoils.

Kelty move above Queen of the South into seventh place, but are nine points adrift of fourth placed Alloa Athletic, who occupy the final Championship play-off place.