New Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny inspired his team to battled back 2-1 to claim a win in the Bank of Scotland Premier League against United.

Craig Levein's side, who were bidding for a first win at East End Park since January 1997, deserved Barry Robson's 52nd-minute opener.But the Fifers roared back with goals from Greg Shields and Gary Mason for a stunning success which kept them in touch with the Tayside club at the foot of the table.

Irishman Kenny, who addressed his new players in the dressing room after leaving Derry City this week, watched his side haul themselves back into the relegation dogfight with their first win since September 23.Kenny took his bow on the pitch before kick-off to strong applause before settling into his seat.The feelgood factor gave the Pars an early lift, with Stephen Simmons dragging a shot wide.

But it was United who began to dominate possession, with former Pars striker Noel Hunt looking lively on the right in tandem with Robson.Craig Conway tried his luck on 15 minutes when he cut inside and sent a 15-yard effort over fit-again Dorus De Vries' bar, before Robson stung the Dutchman's gloves with a left-footed drive.Mark Kerr then saw a fierce long-ranger brilliantly blocked by Greg Shields as the visitors stayed on top.

Chances were few in a poor first half, but Hunt nodded wide on 36 minutes from Stuart Duff's cross.Finally, defensive Dunfermline threatened when Stevie Crawford cut the ball back, but Simmons spooned his close-range strike into the air.However, Derek Stillie failed to hold the ball under pressure from Jim Hamilton and, after a brief scramble, Darren Young shot past the post.The game sprang to life four minutes from the break with referee Alan Freeland coming under fire. First, he waved play on despite Lee Mair being only three yards away when he blocked a Crawford free-kick.

When the ball did break, Robson raced through and held off Scott Wilson on the by-line before appearing to be hauled down, but Freeland waved aside the visitors' claims. Simmons saw an acrobatic effort fly past near the break before Freeland was booed off.Levein's men quickly regained their grip on proceedings and Hunt should have scored from Conway's clipped cross on 51 minutes but again nodded wide with De Vries struggling.However, United's goal was only delayed another 60 seconds after De Vries was badly caught out.Conway swung over another cross from the left and, as De Vries rushed from his goal, Robson headed past him into an empty net from 15 yards in the 52nd minute.

Conway then chipped narrowly wide before Crawford quickly tested Stillie from 18 yards.The Pars had crept back into proceedings and claimed an unlikely leveller in the 76th minute.Substitute Scott Muirhead swung in a corner and Hamilton nodded the ball back for Shields to drive the ball home from just inside the six-yard box.Stillie then beat away a Muirhead drive as the Pars found their feet buoyed by the noisy crowd.

Incredibly, the winner duly arrived in the penultimate minute to send East End Park into raptures.Crawford broke free on the right and his cross was flicked on by another sub, Freddy Daquin, to allow Mason to send the ball past Mason.

Dunfermline: De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Scott Morrison, Labonte, Young, Mason, Simmons (Daquin 60), Owen Morrison (Muirhead 60), Hamilton (Ross 81), Crawford. Subs Not Used: Paterson, Woods, Bamba, John Dunn.

Booked: Shields.

Goals: Shields 76, Mason 89.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Kalvenes, McCracken, Kenneth, Mair, Duff, Kerr (Cameron 90), Conway (Goodwillie 79), Robson, Hunt (Samuel 65), Robertson. Subs Not Used: McLean, Archibald, Proctor, Smith.

Goals: Robson 52.

Att: 6,129

Ref: A Freeland