JAMES MCPAKE is sure that Lewis McCann grabbed a treble during last night's Viaplay Cup win over Annan Athletic - and joked another of his scorers had claimed an "even worse" goal in the past.

Dunfermline moved top of group F, with five points, after a comfortable win over their League One opponents, with Sam Fisher setting them on their way after 17 minutes.

Six minutes later, it looked as though Annan defender, Matthew Douglas, got the final touch to Aaron Comrie's cross, whilst under pressure from McCann, for an own goal, but McPake insisted that his striker got the final touch.

McCann, who also scored in Saturday's draw at Raith Rovers, netted twice in the second half to complete the scoring, and went home with the match ball.

Dunfermline Press: Lewis McCann indicates he grabbed a hat-trick, and clutches the match ball, after last night's win.Lewis McCann indicates he grabbed a hat-trick, and clutches the match ball, after last night's win. (Image: Craig Brown.)

If the second goal of the game is awarded to him, it will be his first professional hat-trick, but there was no doubting that Fisher popped home his first goal for the club.

READ MORE: McCann's at the double as Pars ease to Annan win

"He claimed an even worse one than that one of Lewis’ against Edinburgh (last season) where he crossed it and Liam Fontaine put it in," McPake smiled.

"That’s his first proper goal for the club and he had a shot late on that Greg Fleming makes a really good save from as well. He was excellent tonight along with Rhys Breen and Kyle Benedictus. I thought the three of them were really good."

Dunfermline Press: Sam Fisher put the Pars ahead.Sam Fisher put the Pars ahead. (Image: Craig Brown.)

On the second goal, he commented: "I’m only going from where I am sitting. I think it was Lewis’ touch and it hits the boy. If the boy wasn’t there, it was going in I think. He has got it; if he doesn’t touch the ball it doesn’t go in anyway.

"I think the big man deserves it; he was excellent again tonight. Craig Wighton along with him - that’s the best Craig has been in terms of everything. He is just getting to that level again. You need to do that, work through it and get to that level. We are starting to see that. We are delighted with a lot.

"I thought Andrew Tod was excellent coming on. It was disappointing with Matty Todd’s injury; we will get that assessed tomorrow, and fingers crossed it’s not a lengthy one.

"He has not had any luck from the end of last season and he was just getting to that level, looking really good and then that happens. Hopefully we get a bit of good fortune with that and we will be okay."

Todd's injury, which saw him take a knock to the ankle, and be forced off in the first half, was the only blot on the copybook for the Pars after a professional display.

"It was a comfortable evening, there were a lot of positives to take from the game," McPake continued.

"We were never in any trouble in the 90-odd minutes. There was some really good stuff, it’s three points in the group, which we are delighted about and another clean sheet for Deniz and the team. That was important, we wanted to get back to that and we looked pretty comfortable all evening.

"We had loads of chances. We got in really good areas and there were good moments in the game, where sometimes a bit of luck, or the pitch at times was a bit sticky, and we were getting caught under our feet particularly when we were trying to get in that final area.

"It was three good goals for Lewis, that’s his first professional hat-trick. Well done to him, and a good goal for Sam Fisher."

McCann was also substituted in the latter stages of a game, after being clattered at the edge of the Annan box when playing a pass, but McPake, who said Michael O'Halloran wasn't risked due to a tightness issue and should be fit for Saturday, said he was fine.

"Again he is showing a bit of maturity. He knows the game is done, he knows there is no point in forcing anything," the manager continued.

"He got a kick and he is just looking after it. Well done to him for that as well, he is making better decisions in terms of on the ball. His all round play is developing and he is doing well.

"Tonight we looked very comfortable in the game but there was still a lot of good stuff in the game that made it that comfortable because these games can be tricky as we have all been involved in. We are delighted to get through it with hopefully minimal damage to Matty."

Dunfermline Press: Lewis McCann scores Dunfermline's fourth.Lewis McCann scores Dunfermline's fourth. (Image: Craig Brown.)

READ MORE: Captain Caroline scores in Scotland win on landmark appearance