Dunfermline beat nine-man Raith 3-1 at Stark's Park

Joe Cardle: Scored for Dunfermline

Dunfermline kept the pressure on leaders Partick Thistle in Division One of the Scottish Football League, as they came from behind to beat nine-man Raith Rovers 3-1 at Stark's Park.

In a lively opening to the game, David Smith forced a good save out of visiting keeper Paul Gallacher who dived low to keep out the well-struck 20-yard shot.

And it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, as Patrick Clarke met Allan Walker's free-kick to score with a powerful downward header.

But back came the Pars, with Stephen Husband levelling matters eight minutes before the break from a free-kick.

After Dougie Hill chopped down Ryan Wallace, Husband found the bottom right hand corner from 25 yards.

However, Raith were dealt a serious set-back on the stroke of half-time when they lost skipper Walker for a poor challenge on Wallace.

And it got even worse for Rovers as the players left the pitch at the end of the first half.

Following a clash involving a number of players, referee Crawford Allan showed Hill a second yellow card leaving Raith reduced to nine men.

Not surprisingly, the depleted hosts fell behind on 47 as Dunfermline made it 2-1 thanks to a 20-yard curler from Joe Cardle.

Husband sealed the three points two minutes from time with his second of the afternoon tapping home from close range following Craig Dargo's unselfish assist - the latter side-footed the ball to the striker when he only had keeper Ross Laidlaw to beat.