PARS 2 Raith Rovers 0

KEVIN O'HARA'S derby day double handed Dunfermline a huge three points in their fight against relegation as they saw off Raith Rovers this evening.

The striker's two goals, either side of half-time, won the final Fife derby of the season for the Pars, and moved them to within two points of safety with four games to go.

O'Hara fired the hosts ahead in the 34th minute, being played in by Liam Polworth after he robbed Rovers of possession, before he scrambled in a second with 11 minutes left following a wicked Dom Thomas corner to the neart post.

It was a deserved victory - which means the Pars end the season unbeaten against their rivals - and pulls them closer to eighth-placed Ayr United, and six points clear of bottom side Queen of the South, ahead of Saturday's trip to league leaders Kilmarnock.

John Hughes made one alteration to the side that lost out to Inverness 10 days ago.

Jakub Stolarczyk returned from international duty with Poland's under-21s to take his place in goal, replacing Deniz Mehmet.

John McGlynn made four changes to his team that won the SPFL Trust Trophy on Sunday against Queen of the South.

Liam Dick, Sean Mackie, Ethan Ross and Ethon Varian dropped out - with all but Mackie named on the bench - as Kyle Benedictus, Dario Zanatta, Brad Spencer and David McKay came in.

The match, which kicked off amidst driving rain that came down beforehand, started off at a high-octane pace, but there was little in the way of goalmouth action in the early stages.

Dunfermline, though, did put in some dangerous cross balls - one of which from Josh Edwards had Jamie MacDonald in the Raith goal flapping - while Matty Todd was also unfortunate not to find any takers inside the penalty area.

The first effort on goal came for the visitors, who saw a free-kick taken by Aidan Connolly blocked by the Pars wall, but Athletic had the better opportunities as the half wore on.

Midway through the opening period, Steven Lawless showed terrific feet to turn away from his man and shoot from range, but his effort was off-target, while Dom Thomas raised excitement levels with a couple of fine bits of skill to beat his opponent, one which saw him have a shot blocked.

Rovers were looking nervous in defence and, when Dunfermline did strike, it was from a piece of play that they will not look back on fondly.

They had the ball outside their own penalty area but Liam Polworth was alert, racing in to win possession and find O'Hara in acres of space, who showed great composure to bury his shot beyond MacDonald.

It was a goal the hosts deserved - and gave the stadium a huge lift - and, just before the interval, they should have been two up.

Again, it was excellent ball-winning from the Pars, and Polworth. He worked a one-two with Thomas, before finding O'Hara, who swept the ball across the box for Lawless to run on to.

MacDonald started to come out for it, only to realise he couldn't get there, but with only the keeper to beat, the former Motherwell and Partick Thistle man blazed over.

Early in the second half, Coll Donaldson was unfortunate not to direct a Thomas corner on target, while O'Hara sent over a fine cross that MacDonald missed, but fortunately for Rovers, they were able to put the ball behind.

The Raith keeper soon spilled a Josh Edwards shot, before grabbing at the second attempt, before Matej Poplatnik headed over for the visitors.

After Ethan Ross was introduced for the visitors, they had a spell of pressure - without troubling Stolarczyk - before Donaldson again was unfortunate not to divert a Thomas delivery on target.

With 14 minutes to go, O'Hara was sent racing clear down the left and, with Polworth in support, seemed to be caught in two minds over what to do.

But, moments later, Dunfermline sealed it when Thomas' corner to the near post wasn't dealt with by the Rovers rearguard, and O'Hara was there to bundle in his second of the night, his third against Raith this season, and his ninth of the campaign, to seal a precious three points.

Match stats

Pars: Stolarczyk; Todd, Ambrose, Donaldson, Edwards; Pybus, Chalmers; Lawless, Polworth, Thomas; O'Hara (Kamwa 84).

Subs not used: Martin, McCann, Jones, Dow, Todorov, Comrie, Cole, Mehmet.

Goals: O'Hara (34, 79).

Raith Rovers: MacDonald, Tumilty, Musonda, Benedictus, Connolly, Matthews, Zanatta (Ross 45), Spencer (Varian 59), McKay, Stanton, Poplatnik.

Subs not used: Dick, Arnott, Young, Thomson.

Booked: Connolly (79).

Referee: Nick Walsh.

Attendance: 5,199.