For the Athletic, the win hauled them back to within a point of St Mirren before the trip north to face Inverness on Saturday. A win was required, but the emphatic nature in which it was delivered was most impressive as the Pars racked up their fourth win on the spin.
But the game was soured somewhat with three red cards which saw the visitors end with nine men. Mark Reynolds was ordered off for deliberate handball as Jim McIntyre attempted to race in on goal while Scott McDonald was sent packing for a wild lunge on Scott Muirhead. They will miss the St Mirren game barring appeals which could yet be bad news for the Fifers, whose night was dampened only by the dismissal of Scott Wilson which led to Motherwell's consolation penalty.
After the win in Paisley last week, the Dunfermline fans flocked to East End in numbers and were still streaming into the ground as the Pars surged into a two goal lead inside the opening ten minutes.
And the opening goal typified the Pars play; patient build up and good passing. Tam McManus gathered the ball and played a lovely ball in between two Motherwell defenders to find Adam Hammill on the left, who crossed the ball to the back post and found Jim O'Brien, who took a touch before firing home his first Dunfermline goal at the near post.
A bad start for the 'Well got worse as they went two down four minutes later. Stephen Glass' long free-kick looked harmless enough but with the visiting defence and goalkeeper static, Wilson gobbled up the opportunity to power home a header for his second goal of the season.
East End was positively buzzing thereafter, with the Pars controlling possession well but they did have a major let off after one lapse of concentration. Brian Kerr played the ball through for McDonald, but the Celtic bound striker slid his shot just past the post as Dorus De Vries rushed out to meet him.
The one way traffic continued in the second half and after Graeme Smith had saved a McManus free-kick, the deserved third goal duly arrived via the penalty spot. Another good move saw Gary Mason slid the ball through for Jim McIntyre who was bundled to the ground by Paul Quinn as he and Reynolds came to meet him. Glass stepped up and converted the spot kick to leave the 160 odd Motherwell fans wondering why they bothered making the journey.
Malpas' post match assessment of "we were never at the races", while correct, does a disservice to Stephen Kenny's side who put in as controlled a performance as they have done all season. All over the pitch they worked tirelessly and refused to accept a 3-0 win, evidenced in Reynolds going off for handball as McIntyre attempted to burst through and grab a fourth goal.
But Kenny was displeased with conceding a first goal in five matches. "We got sloppy and were casual at 3-0- that's disappointing" he said. This is to be expected of the quiet and likeable Irishman who wants the maximum from his players each week. But even he couldn't fail to be impressed with the way his side passed their visitors off the pitch and cut them open at will.
Though Ross McCormack did sting the fingers of De Vries, Motherwell's goal was against the run of play and McCormack was involved, going down when in on goal after a slight tug by Wilson. Referee Dougie McDonald deemed it enough to merit a sending off, though it seemed harsh.
While McDonald scored the penalty, he lost the plot just after the restart as he flew in to a tackle on Muirhead and scythed the Pars full back down, receiving a straight red card.
But the scoring was not over. The home side took advantage of Motherwell's nine men as Mark Burchill, lucky to receive only a yellow card after a poor challenge on Jim Paterson, crossed the ball for fellow substitute Jim Hamilton to head home in stoppage time, putting the gloss on a fine win.
A fine win for the Pars which keeps them firmly in the fight to avoid the drop going into the penultimate weekend. As for Motherwell, all might not be 'Well come the end of the season on this evidence.
Match Stats
Dunfermline Athletic: De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Bamba, Glass, O'Brien (Daquin 74), Mason, Muirhead, Hammill, McManus (Hamilton 84), McIntyre (Burchill 71).
Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Woods, McCunnie, Young.
Goals: O'Brien 6, Wilson 11, Glass 58 pen, Hamilton 90.
Sent Off: Wilson (86)
Motherwell: G. Smith, Corrigan, Reynolds, Craigan, Quinn, Vadocz, Kerr, D.Smith (Fitzpatrick 71), Paterson (Keegan 80), McDonald, Clarkson (McCormack 54).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Kinniburgh, McBride, McGarry.
Goal: McDonald 87 pen
Sent Off: Reynolds (68), McDonald (89)
Walking Down the Halbeath Road MoM: Gary Mason
Attendance: 6,662
Referee: Dougie McDonald
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