 Dunfermline moved into ninth place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League as Freddy Daquin capitalised on a Garry Kenneth mistake to condemn injury-hit Dundee United to a 1-0 defeat, their sixth successive loss.
Tannadice manager Craig Brewster was without six first-team regulars through injury in addition to the suspended Barry Robson, and his young team would have taken a first-half lead but for the profligacy of Collin Samuel. With 12 minutes remaining, though, Daquin gleefully accepted his invitation to shoot - and his goal saw the Pars reclaim their highest league placing this season. Having won only once since Brewster arrived from Inverness in January, United were eager to impress in their final home game of the season - and they created the first chance when Craig Samson's lengthy punch was gathered by Stuart Duff in the centre of the pitch. The 24-year-old confidently drove forward before flighting a deft cross towards Jim McIntyre, but the United captain headed just wide of Allan McGregor's right-hand post from 10 yards. Two minutes later, the home side came even closer to taking the lead when McIntyre's clipped delivery found Samuel stationed inside the Pars area. But from point-blank range the Trinidad and Tobago striker's powerful header was brilliantly saved by the alert McGregor. United continued to enjoy the majority of the possession without seriously threatening the visitors' goal, until Samuel received a cushioned pass from Greg Cameron 25 yards out and forced McGregor into another good save - this time low to the goalkeeper's right. Dunfermline finally managed to register a shot on target in the 21st minute when Mark Burchill capitalised on a mistake from Kenneth - but Samson was equal to the in-form forward's drive from a tight angle. David Fernandez made his presence felt for the first time 11 minutes before the interval. The Spaniard intelligently weighted a defence-splitting through ball to Samuel, but from an acute angle six yards from goal the former Falkirk forward saw his shot blocked by the feet of McGregor. United started the second half with long-distance shots from Ross Gardiner and Charlie Mulgrew which flashed just wide - before Daquin wasted a good chance for the visitors, placing a poor effort wide of the far post after good work be Arron Labonte. The hosts were then unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Gary Mason appeared to pull down Fernandez six yards from goal as the duo were jostling to get on the end of a Mulgrew cross. With 19 minutes remaining, Burchill missed a good opportunity to finally break the deadlock - shooting straight at Samson from the edge of the box. But United did not heed the warning and conceded the winning goal seven minutes later. Kenneth failed to clear a loose ball under pressure 10 yards from goal, and Daquin profited - curling a wonderful effort into the top corner of Samson's goal to steal a win for the Pars.
Dundee Utd: Samson, Abbot (Robertson 34), McCracken, Kenneth, Gardiner, Duff, Cameron, McIntyre, Mulgrew, Fernandez, Samuel (Miller 62).
Subs Not Used: McLean, McInnes, Easton, Watson, Goodwillie. Booked: Abbot, Miller. Dunfermline: McGregor, Labonte, Shields, Scott Wilson, Iain Campbell, Daquin (Craig Wilson 80), Mason, Ross, Hunt, Burchill, Tarachulski (Muirhead 68).
Subs Not Used: Halliwell, McCunnie, Andy Campbell, Simmons, Phinn. Booked: Mason. Goal: Daquin 78. Att: 5,034 Ref: C Thomson
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