Dunfermline boosted their survival hopes with their first Scottish Premier League home win of the season.

After a first half of few chances, the bottom club took the lead when Joe Cardle fired past Jamie Langfield.

Cardle's free-kick was headed home by Andy Kirk as the Pars doubled their advantage on 68 minutes.

Aberdeen gifted Kirk his second to ensure Dunfermline claimed their first win under Jim Jefferies to move to within three points of Hibernian.

Andy Kirk leaps above Mark Reynolds to score a header for Dunfermline against Aberdeen

Kirk (right) heads Dunfermline's second

Hibs can restore a six-point lead when they visit St Mirren on Sunday, while Aberdeen slip four points behind seventh-placed Kilmarnock.

Dunfermline were awarded an early free-kick inside the Aberdeen box after Langfield was adjudged to have picked up a passback from a team-mate.

The goalkeeper was booked for dissent before Paddy Boyle touched the free-kick back to Martin Hardie, who fired across the face of goal.

Aberdeen threatened at set-pieces, with Russell Anderson heading over and Fraser Fyvie's free-kick nervously palmed out by home goalkeeper Chris Smith.

The rest of the first half featured little in the way of openings, Smith clutching the ball off a tame aerial effort by Scott Vernon just before the break.

Aberdeen began the second period comfortable in possession but fell behind on 56 minutes after failing to deal with a long ball.

Cardle got the break of the ball on the left edge of the area and placed a shot into the far corner of the net.

The Dons responded with Josh Magennis slicing a shot across the face of goal and Vernon flicking a header into the hands of Smith.

However, Dunfermline were growing in confidence and moved further ahead when Cardle's free-kick was glanced past Langfield by Kirk.

Youngsters Declan McManus and Jamie Masson were introduced for Aberdeen, but the duo had an unhappy introduction as Kirk completed the scoring in the 77th minute.

The Dons initially recovered from Langfield's poor clearance, but Fyvie's wayward passback sent Kirk through on goal and the striker found the net despite Langfield getting something on the ball.

Smith rounded off a day of 'firsts' with his maiden shut-out of the season.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Dunfermline

  • 20 Smith
  • 06 Keddie
  • 13 Boyle
  • 15 Dowie
  • 02 Kerr
  • 04 Mason
  • 07 Cardle
  • 08 Hardie (Burns - 72' )
  • 24 Hutton
  • 10 Kirk (Barrowman - 83' )
  • 11 Graham (Thomson - 88' )

Substitutes

  • 27 Fernandez
  • 39 Young
  • 17 Burns
  • 22 Willis
  • 23 Thomson
  • 09 Barrowman
  • 12 McDougall

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield Booked
  • 03 Reynolds
  • 06 Considine
  • 27 Anderson
  • 07 Clark (Masson - 74' )
  • 17 Fyvie
  • 22 Jack
  • 28 Rae
  • 09 Vernon (McManus - 74' )
  • 21 Magennis
  • 23 Megginson (Mackie - 63' )

Substitutes

  • 50 Rogers
  • 02 McArdle
  • 11 Arnason
  • 33 Masson
  • 10 Mackie
  • 41 Smith
  • 47 McManus
Ref: Charleston
Att: 3,501

Match Stats

Shots

5 5

On target

4 3

Corners

2 10

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:04 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

87:47

Corner taken by Joe Cardle.

86:36

Joe Cardle produces a cross, Josh Magennis makes a clearance.

86:36 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Thomson joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Graham.

86:36

Andrew Barrowman fouled by Russell Anderson, the ref awards a free kick.

82:17 Substitution

Substitution Andy Kirk leaves the field to be replaced by Andrew Barrowman.

82:17

Paul Burns is ruled offside. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.

81:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fraser Fyvie on Kyle Hutton. Direct free kick taken by Andy Dowie.

79:23

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Masson played to the near post, clearance made by Mark Kerr. Jamie Masson takes the inswinging corner, Andy Kirk makes a clearance. Corner taken by Jamie Masson, clearance made by Alex Keddie.

76:45 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Kirk - Dunf'mline 3 - 0 Aberdeen A goal is scored by Andy Kirk from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dunfermline 3-0 Aberdeen.

73:38 Substitution

Substitution Scott Vernon goes off and Declan McManus comes on.

73:38 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Masson replaces Chris Clark.

72:38

Foul by Andy Kirk on Russell Anderson, free kick awarded. Chris Clark takes the free kick.

70:37

Patrick Boyle takes the direct free kick.

70:37 Substitution

Substitution Paul Burns replaces Martin Hardie.

70:37

Foul by Fraser Fyvie on Martin Hardie, free kick awarded.

68:00

Assist by Joe Cardle.

68:00 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Kirk - Dunf'mline 2 - 0 Aberdeen Andy Kirk finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Dunfermline 2-0 Aberdeen.

67:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Jack on Patrick Boyle. Centre by Joe Cardle,

64:34

The official flags Andy Kirk offside. Mark Reynolds takes the free kick.

63:28

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Joe Cardle, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

62:19 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Darren Mackie coming on for Mitchel Megginson.

61:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Reynolds by Andy Kirk. Direct free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.

59:02

Unfair challenge on Martin Hardie by Russell Anderson results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Joe Cardle, Scott Vernon manages to make a clearance.

58:22

Josh Magennis has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

57:31

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andy Kirk. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

55:21

The assist for the goal came from Alex Keddie.

55:21 Goal scored

Goal - Joe Cardle - Dunf'mline 1 - 0 Aberdeen Goal scored by Joe Cardle from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dunfermline 1-0 Aberdeen.

54:17

Foul by Martin Hardie on Fraser Fyvie, free kick awarded. Fraser Fyvie takes the direct free kick.

50:56

Unfair challenge on Ryan Jack by Kyle Hutton results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

46:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Mason on Mitchel Megginson. Shot comes in from Fraser Fyvie from the free kick.

45:55

The referee blows for offside against Martin Hardie. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

45:25

Andrew Considine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Hardie. Chris Smith restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +0:12 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

44:52

Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save made by Chris Smith.

43:51

Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Fyvie from the right by-line, Andy Dowie manages to make a clearance.

41:12

Josh Magennis challenges Joe Cardle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Martin Hardie produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

40:12

Gary Mason fouled by Scott Vernon, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Mason takes the free kick.

36:36

Martin Hardie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

34:07

Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Jack from the right by-line, clearance made by Andy Kirk.

33:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mitchel Megginson, Andy Kirk manages to make a clearance.

32:53

Corner from the right by-line taken by Fraser Fyvie, Russell Anderson takes a shot. Patrick Boyle gets a block in.

26:44

The referee blows for offside against Scott Vernon. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Smith.

26:22

Foul by Andy Kirk on Mitchel Megginson, free kick awarded. Andrew Considine restarts play with the free kick.

25:13

Andy Kirk concedes a free kick for a foul on Mitchel Megginson. Ryan Jack takes the free kick.

23:50

Fraser Fyvie decides to take the corner short.

22:50

Outswinging corner taken by Fraser Fyvie, clearance by Andy Dowie.

22:09

Unfair challenge on Fraser Fyvie by Kyle Hutton results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Fraser Fyvie from left channel, save made by Chris Smith.

21:39

Martin Hardie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Russell Anderson. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

19:29

Gavin Rae challenges Martin Hardie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Dowie.

16:20

Outswinging corner taken by Fraser Fyvie from the right by-line played to the near post, Russell Anderson has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.

9:15

Russell Anderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Hardie. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Joe Cardle, save by Jamie Langfield.

6:06

Gary Mason challenges Mitchel Megginson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Considine.

3:05

Centre by Patrick Boyle, Effort from deep inside the area by Martin Hardie misses to the left of the goal.

3:05 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jamie Langfield a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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