BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier (original) (raw)

Marc Fitzpatrick (right) broke the deadlock at East End Park

Motherwell produced a smash and grab victory to leave Dunfermline Athletic stranded at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League by seven points.

Mark Burchill had already struck the bar for the hosts as they dominated the early stages.

But Marc Fitzpatrick stabbed in the opener against the run of play.

Scott McDonald curled in the second after the break and former Well striker Jim Hamilton was sent off for violent conduct moments later.

Fit-again Burchill had returned to the Dunfermline starting line-up, replacing the suspended Stevie Crawford, while Freddie Daquin came in for Greg Ross.

Well made one change, with Paul Quinn replacing the banned Jim Paterson, and the visiting defence was quickly under pressure.

Goalkeeper Graeme Smith blocked Daquin's close-range effort in the third minute after a sweeping move by the hosts.

The Pars should have taken the lead in the 12th minute, when Burchill and Gary Mason both missed a dangerous cross by Daquin.

Burchill hooked a volley on to the bar from 20 yards and Well had another escape when Martyn Corrigan cleared Phil McGuire's header off the line after a Scott Muirhead corner.

Muirhead then cut in from the left and had a low shot smothered by Smith.

The visitors finally threatened midway through the half when Calum Elliot fired a 25-yard volley just over.

And they took the lead against the run of play in the 26th minute, when Fitzpatrick burst on to Quinn's through ball and slotted the ball past on-rushing goalkeeper Dorus De Vries.

Darren Smith missed a great chance to grab Well's second moments later, when De Vries brilliantly clawed away his effort after Elliot had sent him clear.

Souleymane Bamba and Burchill both came close from the edge of the box as shell-shocked Dunfermline tried to respond.

Burchill missed a one-on-one moments after the break when he placed a shot over the onrushing Smith but inches past the post.

Hamilton headed a yard wide after Darren Young's cross.

And Muirhead missed a glorious chance when he failed to get a decent contact on his volley from eight yards after Scott Wilson had turned back Mason's high free-kick.

But the visitors were looking increasingly dangerous on the break.

And McDonald ran at the home defence, cut inside and smashed the ball into the top corner.

It was all too much for Hamilton, who led with his elbow in a terrible challenge on former team-mate Stephen Craigan and was sent off.

Dunfermline: De Vries, Shields, Wilson, McGuire, Bamba (Ross 68), Young, Mason, Muirhead, Daquin (Owen Morrison 45), Burchill, Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Scott Morrison, Tod, Woods, Williamson.

Sent Off: Hamilton (80). Booked: Burchill, Wilson, McGuire.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Quinn, Reynolds, Fitzpatrick, Kerr, Elliot, Darren Lee Smith (McGarry 59), McDonald, Foran.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Kinniburgh, McBride, Robert Donnelly, Connolly, Coakley.

Booked: Foran.

Goals: Fitzpatrick 26, McDonald 79.

Att: 4,200

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