A first half goal from summer signing Pat Clarke was sufficient for Dunfermline Athletic to come out on top of Falkirk 1-0 in front of a near 7,000 crowd at the Falkirk Stadium.
The win sees the Pars strike an early blow in the race to win the Division, however they did make it harder work for themselves than it might have been by missing a penalty that would have doubled their lead.
Clarke got on the end of a Joe Cardle cross to nod home via the crossbar after 16 minutes and when Cardle was fouled in the box, by new Bairn Jason Marr 12 minutes later the East End Park side had a great opportunity to make it two.
Andy Kirk fired in weakly from 12 yards and Robert Olejnik dived to his right to save and the game continued from end to end with the advantage still only the one goal.
Nicky Phinn missed a chance for Dunfermline in the second half before Ryan Flynn came close for Falkirk with an effort from distance.
Chris Smith in the Dunfermline goal tipped over a Brian McLean header and it looked like an equaliser was going to arrive when Kenny Deuchar fired a McLean cross goalward only for Smith to stretch high and touch the ball over.
To compound a disappointing day for Falkirk, Mark Millar was dismissed in injury time for a crude challenge on Dunfermline substitute Willie Gibson.
Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre was understandably pleased at the end saying, “We started really well but I thought, here we go again, when we missed the penalty and other chances. Things like that came back to bite us last season and we do need to be more ruthless.”
Beaten Falkirk boss Steven Pressley said, “We did not hit the heights that we can so it is a disappointing start. I have great belief in these players and we will look to put things right in the next game.”
“I have no complaints about the sending off but to be fair to Mark he played really well before then.”
Raith Rovers were the big winners in the First Division as they stunned Partick Thistle 4-0 at Stark’s Park with new recruit John Baird helping himself to a hat-trick.
Mark Ferry opened the scoring with a fine volley after just six minutes and the Kirkcaldy men got a helping hand with their second on the half hour mark.
Jags goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell threw the ball out to an unsuspecting Paddy Boyle and he was easily robbed by Iain Williamson who sent the ball across goal for Baird to tap home.
The game was effectively over five minutes from half time when Williamson was fouled by Willie Kinniburgh and the award of a penalty and a red card for the defender seamed to sum up Thistle’s afternoon.
Baird drilled home from 12 yards and the striker forced the ball home from much closer range to make it four for Rovers with eight minutes to go.
A delighted John McGlynn commented, “The early goal was crucial and we benefitted from a mistake by Thistle and then the penalty. The red card was harsh but those are the rules.”
Furious Thistle boss Ian McCall growled, “It is an appalling start to the season and we were giving away goals out there. We will need to go back to basics and become a team that is hard to beat.”
Dundee got their promotion push off to a good start with a 1-0 win over manager Gordon Chisholm’s former Queen of the South side in a game that included a wonder strike, a missed penalty and two red cards.
Recently installed Dens Park skipper Gary Harkins provided the wonder strike midway through the first half when he curled home a 25 yard free kick after he had been fouled by Rocco Quinn.
The Doonhamers had the perfect chance to draw level on the hour mark when Dundee’s new recruit from Walsall, Netan Sansara, fouled Paul Burns in the box. Derek Holmes stepped up however his effort from 12 yards was saved by former Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas.
Sansara’s afternoon got worse when he was sent off for getting too involved with the assistant referee and the Dark Blues were down to nine men when Nicky Reilly was red-carded with quarter of an hour left for a second caution.
Despite their handicap Dundee held out to leave Chisholm beaming, “To be down to nine men and hold on for the win tells me a lot about the desire our players have. They know I am delighted with the character they have shown.”
Player-coach of the Dumfries side Neil Scally commented, “We put a lot into that game and it is disappointing not to take anything from it when you consider we had a penalty and a two man advantage.”
Ross County ruined Cowdenbeath’s return to the First Division by winning 2-0 at Central Park where Michael Gardyne and Paul Di Giacomo were on target in the second half to leave Dingwall boss Derek Adams pleased with his front men.
Adams said, “Our finishing was top notch and the build up play to both goals was excellent.”
Blue Brazil boss Jimmy Nicholl was remaining upbeat saying, “There are more positives than negatives to take from that game.”
Second Division Champions Stirling began life in the First Division with a goalless draw at Morton and they had to endure a bit of a dig afterwards from the man who guided them to the title.
Allan Moore who is now in charge at Cappielow said, “Stirling got what they came for. They set up with a very defensive formation and we made it easy for them by not being at our sharpest.”
Moore’s replacement at Forthbank John O’Neill was pleased saying, “The work rate and commitment of the boys was superb and I am delighted with their performance.”
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