Peterhead 0 PARS 2

ATHLETIC are one win away from becoming League One champions after two second half goals saw off Peterhead tonight.

Nikolay Todorov and Craig Wighton were on target at Balmoor as James McPake's league leaders stretched their unbeaten record in the division to 20 matches.

A 19th shut-out in 32 league games for Deniz Mehmet ensured the Pars collected the three points, and did their bit, to try and wrap up the title this evening.

For that to happen, they also needed Falkirk, in second, to drop points at Montrose but, despite Stewart Petrie's team pulling a goal back late on at Links Park, the Bairns secured a 2-1 win.

That means the gap between Dunfermline and Falkirk remains 11 points, with 12 left to play for, meaning that a victory over play-off chasing Queen of the South, at KDM Group East End Park on Saturday, will secure the title and an instant return to the Championship, regardless of Falkirk's result at home to third-top Airdrieonians.

A failure by the Bairns to beat the Diamonds would also be enough for the Pars if they don't win themselves, and McPake said post-match:"All the talk, all the hype, surrounding this game - it was all pointless unless we won it anyway.

"We had to come up here and win. We wanted to get back to winning ways, we wanted to add to that unbeaten run as well, and we've done both of them.

"We'll get back on the bus, we'll recover, and we'll look forward to Saturday."

The visiting boss made one change from the team that fought back from two goals down to earn a point at Falkirk.

Wighton, who scored their first of the afternoon, dropped to the bench in place of Todorov, who made his first start since a 2-0 win at Queen of the South in February.

The Blue Toon, who had lost the last two meetings of the clubs this season, having claimed an unlikely draw in the first, were still aiming to try and climb off bottom spot.

They began the evening two points behind the Bully Wee, with the chance to avoid automatic relegation by contesting the play-offs up for grabs, and they belied their lowly status in the opening period.

Well organised, and having started the better early on, the Blue Toon frustrated Dunfermline and their travelling supporters, as the visitors struggled to make inroads in attack.

Joe Chalmers was required to clear a Jordon Brown header off the line, whilst Mehmet got behind a decently-struck Ryan Strachan free-kick, as Athletic took their time to settle.

Matty Todd, so often the bright spark for Dunfermline, embarked on a superb run, before playing a fine ball across goal that had no takers, as McPake's team tried to rouse themselves.

Chris Hamilton headed over from a Chalmers free-kick but, in 24 minutes, their best chance of the half fell to Todorov.

Josh Edwards was the creator, going on a fine run down the left before pulling it back for the forward, who caught it well but struck it straight at McKenzie.

The keeper, though, couldn't hold on and as Todorov reacted to the loose ball, and went down, he was cautioned by referee, Dan McFarlane, for what he deemed to be simulation as the Bulgarian claimed a penalty.

Two further spot-kick appeals - for handball against Ryan Strachan, firstly for blocking an Edwards cross, and a separate block on a McCann shot, were also waved away as Dunfermline endured a frustrating first half.

By then, Falkirk were 2-0 up at Montrose, so the chance to win the title this evening was looking slim, but the visitors, nonetheless, took a grip of proceedings after the break and proceeded to hold up their side of the bargain.

After missing his kick, and an opportunity, after being picked out well by Todd, Todorov did get himself on the scoresheet in the 57th minute.

Chalmers provided the assist, sliding an excellent ball in behind the home defence for the Bulgarian striker to run on to and, with a deft finish, he netted his 11th goal of the season.

That, though, was his final act, as he was one of two players - the other being Hamilton - to be substituted in changes readied ahead of his goal, with Chris Mochrie and Wighton coming on.

The latter, in particular, proved inspired as, after Kyle Benedictus had a header cleared off the line; McCann saw a shot deflected wide; and Edwards fired wide, Wighton got in on the goalscoring.

McCann did well to capitalise on a mistake from Jack Wilkie and run into the box on the right and, although he had a chance to shoot himself, he laid it on a plate for his team-mate to score his 16th of the campaign from close range.

Edwards and Wighton had opportunities to score a third but, for Athletic, it was job done.

Although there was some excitement when Montrose scored late on to set up a nervy finish for Falkirk, the Bairns held on to win, meaning Dunfermline's title celebrations are on hold - for now.

McPake said of his team's performance: "Very professional. Tough conditions, really tough.

"I wouldn't say Peterhead played the conditions better in the first half; they just had the conditions. We showed when we had the conditions, it was different, and it was really tough to play in, but it was the same for both teams.

"You've got to manage it. Both teams had a lot to play for tonight, with their position in the league, our position in the league, so it was a tough game in terms of that, just the energy surrounding the game, everything surrounding the game, for us and for them.

"They had a great result on Saturday, and they were looking to get another result to take them off the bottom of the league.

"It was a tough game, tough first half, and very professional, in my opinion.

"It was never going to be pretty; when we turned up here, and we saw the weather, it wasn't going to be a pretty game.

"It was just, do what you can do to win the game, and we did that."

Match stats

Peterhead: McKenzie, Bisland, Joshua, R. Strachan, Wilkie, McCarthy (Ikwa 87), Jack Brown (Allan 79), D. Strachan (MacIver 70), Jordon Brown, Oyinsan (O'Keefe 70), Shanks (Fosu 79).

Subs not used: Wood, Gabriel, Walusimbi, McLeod.

Booked: Strachan (36), Oyinsan (45), Jordon Brown (50), Bisland (86).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Benedictus, Otoo, Edwards, Hamilton (Mochrie 58), Chalmers, Ritchie-Hosler (MacDonald 72), Todd (McGowan 72), McCann (Allan 86), Todorov (Wighton 58).

Subs not used: O'Hara, Fenton, Mahon, Little.

Goals: Todorov (57), Wighton (67).

Booked: Todorov (24).

Attendance: 1,281.