Despite leading for almost an hour we left East End Park pointless after our first league visit to Dunfermline in over 17 years.

Jimmy Nicholl made one change to the starting line up which had beaten Morton with Joe Mbu coming back at the expense of youngster Thomas O’Brien.

The Pars almost took the lead after just two minutes when Cardle’s low shot was blocked by Hay but it was Cowden who stormed into the lead five minutes later when McKenzie raced past Dowie on the right wing and sent over a cross which was flicked on by Cameron to John Dempster who drove the ball past Smith from ten yards.

Soon after McKenzie fired in a 25 yard effort which Smith did well to turn over the crossbar.

Former Central Parker Clarke came into the action at the break to replace McDougall as the Pars looked to breakthrough the resolute Cowden defence.

Steven Bell twice tested Hay with headed efforts before the equaliser came after 64 minutes when a deep cross from the right from Woods was headed back across the goal by Cardle to Bell who steered the ball home.

With just 12 minutes to go the home side secured the winner which saw them leapfrog Raith Rovers at the top of the table when a Clarke effort was parried into the path of Joe Cardle who drove the ball high into the net.