Pars 4-0 Annan Athletic, Viaplay Cup, Group F

DUNFERMLINE moved to the top of their Viaplay Cup group after cruising to victory over Annan Athletic at KDM Group East End Park.

Lewis McCann's brace - although his boss afterwards said what looked like an own goal from Matthew Douglas, that added to Sam Fisher's opener, was also his - eased James McPake's team to three points.

They dominated against their opponents from the division below, with Fisher's first goal for the Pars, and Douglas' own goal - or McCann's first of the evening - putting them two goals up inside the opening quarter of the game, but they suffered a blow when Matty Todd hobbled off injured in the first half.

McPake said afterwards that Todd had sustained an ankle injury, which will be assessed tomorrow, and commented that he had his "fingers crossed it's not a lengthy one".

On the match itself, he said: "It was a comfortable evening, a lot of positives to take from the game. We were never in any trouble in the 90-odd minutes. There was some really good stuff, and it's just three points in the group, which we're delighted about.

"It's another clean sheet for Deniz and the team, so that was important. We wanted to get back to that, and we looked pretty comfortable all evening."

The victory moves the Pars to five points, following Saturday's draw, and additional bonus point following penalty shoot-out success, at Raith Rovers on Saturday, ahead of the Kirkcaldy side, who defeated Albion Rovers to move on to four points.

Kilmarnock, who defeated Annan on Saturday, visit East End for their second match of the section this weekend, before Dunfermline finish their fixtures at Albion next Tuesday.

McPake named an unchanged line-up from that which started Saturday's opener with Raith Rovers, but Michael O'Halloran, who appeared as a second half substitute at Stark's Park, was absent from the squad.

The visitors, who last season won promotion to League One for the first time in their history, came to KDM Group East End Park with two former Dunfermline players, goalkeeper, Greg Fleming, and veteran, Wullie Gibson, and ex-Kelty Hearts defender, Scott Hooper, in their ranks.

As well as looking to bounce back from their loss to Kilmarnock, who travel to East End on Saturday, they were looking for a first-ever competitive win over the Pars.

Both of the teams' previous meetings had come in this competition, with the Fifers winning 2-1 at Galabank in 2010, before triumphing 5-1 at home four years later.

Almost straight from kick-off, a foul on Josh Edwards allowed McCann to swing in a delivery for Kyle Benedictus, which the skipper diverted over, whilst Joe Chalmers did well to glide away from a couple of challenges before forcing Fleming into a save.

Peter Murphy's side, though, did force Deniz Mehmet into an early spot of catching practice from a Dominic Docherty effort, but fell behind in the 17th minute.

A free-kick conceded on the left-hand side allowed Chalmers to once again send a ball into the penalty area, which deceived everybody before falling kindly for Fisher, who had the simple task of sidefooting home at the back post.

Just six minutes later, the home side doubled their lead, with another cross ball causing Annan problems.

This time it was Aaron Comrie's delivery from the right that put them under pressure and Douglas, with McCann in close attention, appeared to get the final touch and loop a header over goalkeeper Fleming and in off the post as he attempted to clear.

That gave the hosts breathing space, but they suffered a blow just shy of the half hour mark when Matty Todd had to be helped off after taking a heavy knock, with teenager Andrew Tod coming on in his place.

Before the break, Dunfermline had chances to make it 3-0.

McCann was unlucky to shoot wide of the far post, after being played in on the left, before having an effort blocked by the advancing Fleming after being played through, whilst, in between times, Comrie had a header cleared off the line by Hooper after McCann's deflected cross was missed by Fleming, who collided with Edwards as he tried to challenge.

Benedictus then had an ambitious effort from range, which finished off-target, whilst Tod was unlucky to divert the ball wide, from McCann's low pass, after a break that saw Craig Wighton take a lovely touch before sending him away with a fine pass.

Just as the half ended, Chalmers curled over after McCann cushioned the ball into his path, but two goals was all the hosts had to show for a largely dominant opening period.

Ewan Otoo sent a shot well over early in the second half as the Pars searched for a third, which Fisher almost found with a thunderous long-ranger that Fleming pushed behind well.

From the resulting corner, though, Tod and Chalmers combined to send the ball in for McCann, who rose highest nod in his second goal in as many games, and give Dunfermline their third goal.

Five minutes later, he had his second of the night, and third in two games, after a well-worked goal.

Tod started the move, sliding a lovely pass through for Wighton, who had the composure to look up and play a low ball across the six-yard box, giving McCann an easy tap in at the far post.

Dunfermline continued to press but, with Annan tiring, some hefty challenges began to go in, with McCann taking a clattering at the edge of the box as he recycled the ball.

After the forward went down again after that, McPake took no changes, sending on Taylor Sutherland, whilst fellow youngsters, Miller Fenton and Liam Hoggan, were also given run-outs in place of Edwards and Comrie.

Allan had a shot blocked, after Fisher and Tod combined well to set him up, before Sutherland, following a neat turn, had a go from 20 yards, but couldn't keep his effort on target.

Tod had a shot deflected behind before Fleming produced a smart stop to deny Wighton, after an excellent pass forward by Fisher, but four goals was enough as Dunfermline moved top of the section.

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie (Hoggan 72), Fisher, Benedictus, Breen, Edwards (Fenton 72), Otoo, Chalmers (Allan 57), Todd (Tod 28), Wighton, McCann (Sutherland 72).

Sub not used: Little.

Goals: Fisher (17), Douglas (OG, 23), McCann (55, 60).

Annan Athletic: Fleming, Docherty (Cranston 87), Swinglehurst (Dixon 63), Campbell, Douglas, Muir (Glenn 78), Luissint (Jamieson 87), Galloway, Hooper, Goss, Gibson.

Subs not used: Mitchell, Johnston.

Booked: Douglas (62), Galloway (66), Hooper (76).

Referee: Lloyd Wilson.

Attendance: 1,364.