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Anthony Stokes continued his goalscoring form at East End Park

Young player of the month Anthony Stokes grabbed his second hat-trick in a week as Falkirk won with ease against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park.

The on-loan Arsenal striker lashed the opener home from six yards after only 33 seconds following Alan Gow's cross.

Gow, Stokes and Steven Thomson all squandered chances for Falkirk as the visitors dominated the derby.

And, after a Greg Ross drive struck Falkirk's bar, the visitors broke clear and Stokes stroked in his third goal.

Ross had started ahead of the injured Jamie McCunnie for Dunfermline, who were again under the control of caretaker manager Craig Robertson.

Falkirk were unchanged after their 5-1 thrashing of Dundee United and began where they left off last weekend by taking the lead after just 33 seconds.

Gow headed for the by-line and his low cross found strike partner Stokes, who lashed the ball home from six yards.

Falkirk goalkeeper Jeroen Lambers was on hand to thwart Andy Tod following a header from a similar distance at the other end moments later.

But it was Falkirk who were dominating and goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie was forced into saving a low shot from Gow.

Another Gow cross, missed by defender Greg Shields, found Stokes and the on-loan Arsenal striker rolled his effort just past the far post.

Steven Thomson burst into the Dunfermline box, powered past Tod's poor challenge and struck a close-range shot off the body of McKenzie.

Stokes sent another bouncing shot wide when he should have hit the target.

Dunfermline threatened after half an hour, but Stephen Simmons sliced a half-volley wide from 12 yards following a Tod knockdown.

Stokes has scored nine goals in four games for Falkirk

McKenzie was again called into action when Gow danced around Ross and powered a left-footed effort across goal that was well blocked at full stretch by the goalkeeper.

Blocks by Tod and McKenzie denied Thomson after the break, but the Bairns midfielder made amends by setting up Stokes for his second goal.

His measured pass allowed the Irishman to confidently place the ball past a cruelly exposed McKenzie.

Dunfermline responded with a point-blank header from Jim Hamilton following a Darren Young cross that drew a fantastic reaction save from Lambers.

McKenzie denied Gow before Dunfermline came close to pulling a goal back when a Ross drive cannoned off the crossbar.

And Falkirk immediately raced up the pitch to secure the three points.

Gow's pass was comfortably dispatched by Stokes from just inside the Pars' penalty area for his ninth goal in four games.

Dunfermline: McKenzie, Labonte, Shields, Tod, Simmons (McGuire 46), Ross, Mason, Young, Owen Morrison (Crawford 58), Burchill, Hamilton (Muirhead 69).
Subs Not Used: Paterson, Daquin, Woods, Phinn.

Booked: Young, McGuire, Hamilton, Mason.

Falkirk: Lambers, Ross, Barr, Milne, Twaddle, O'Donnell, Cregg, Latapy (Craig 82), Thomson (Lima 76), Stokes (John Stewart 86), Gow.
Subs Not Used: Higgins, Dodd, Mcstay, Uras.

Booked: Thomson, O'Donnell.

Goals: Stokes 1, 59, 80.

Att: 6,504

Ref: I Brines

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