Live Commentary

Rampant Dunfermline improve standing Dunfermline extended their lead at the top of the First Division after a dominant 5-0 home win over Cowdenbeath. Former Hearts striker Andy Kirk hit his 10th goal of the season to open the scoring and a second-half brace from substitute Patrick Clarke, one from Nick Phinn and an own goal ensured a four-point advantage over Dundee going into the new year. David Graham had the first effort of the night with a speculative 20-yard strike before Colin Cameron lashed over the top for the visitors when a Brian Fairbairn corner was not dealt with. Kirk then tested Cowden goalkeeper David Hay for the first time with a sharp strike from the edge of the area before a flurry of chances led to Kirk's 29th-minute opener. Graham saw his left-footed volley repelled by Hay and from the following corner Hay was again in top form to keep out a powerful Alex Keddie header. But the onslaught paid off when Paul Willis drove in a shot from 20 yards and when Hay could only palm the ball out Kirk was alive to nip in and slam the ball home. Kirk and Keddie both shot over before the break as the hosts looked to double the lead. Graham had the first effort after the break but could not hit the target before Kirk was replaced by Clarke. And he took less than five minutes to find the target with the crucial 63rd-minute second. Calum Woods played a long ball over the top and Clarke raced clear of the covering defence to draw Hay and slip the ball easily under him. Phinn notched five minutes later when he latched onto a low Willis cross to slam into the roof of the net. Clarke grabbed his second with four minutes left. Ryan Thomson worked the ball over from the left flank and Clarke drilled a low shot in at the near post. The misery was complete for the visitors with a minute remaining when defender Scott Linton turned a cross past his own keeper.