Dunfermline Athletic 3 Kilmarnock 2

Last updated : 09 September 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Stevie Crawford celebrated his return to East End Park by nabbing the winner six minutes from time.

Crawford, who had a quiet game, side-stepped two defenders before drilling the ball between the legs of Graeme Smith.

It capped a great fight back by Dunfermline who had trailed to a Gary Wales goal before Gary Mason equalised after 73 minutes.

Kilmarnock settled into their stride quickly and Danny Invincibile was allowed to run freely at the Pars' penalty area but shot wildly.

Dunfermline did not heed the warning and he was deadly accurate with his second strike at goal after just nine minutes.

Wales prodded the ball into his path and, from a tight angle, he found the far corner of the net.

Dunfermline took time to find their feet but a swashbuckling run by Aaron Labonte deserved better reward than Crawford's over-hit cross which sailed wide of the far post.

Mason then did well to control his shot from just outside the box but his right-foot effort was just a foot too high.

James Fowler then made a great last-ditch tackle to prevent Crawford getting a clear sight of goal from just ten yards out.

David Fernandez was unfortunate with a header at the other end which struck Phil McGuire before bouncing out for a corner.

Stephen Simmons squandered a great chance when he had a free header at the back post but could get no power on his effort and Smith saved easily.

But the midfield player had a hand in the equaliser four minutes from half-time when he headed Owen Morrison's cross past Smith for Darren Young to apply the finish at the far post.

Wales put Killie back in front with a wonderful 20-yard strike from an Allan Johnston pass but Mason scrambled an equaliser after a Morrison cross was not dealt with by the Dunfermline defence.

It was set up for Crawford and he took his goal brilliantly to settle the issue.