Kilmarnock finished off the season in fine style with a comprehensive 4-0 win over desperate Dunfermline in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Rugby Park.

A Gary Locke header gave the home side an interval lead but as the Fifers collapsed after the restart, Rhian Dodds, Kris Boyd and Gary McDonald all scored to seal the victory.

Despite being helped no end by the visitors' lethargy, it was a convincing victory for the Ayrshire side who confirmed their 'best of the rest' seventh-place status in the SPL.

It had been 130 league matches since Kilmarnock had been involved in a goalless draw so the fans who rolled up to Rugby Park looked forward to seeing some goals before they headed off for the summer.

Before the game, referee Willie Young, who was in charge for the last time before retirement, was applauded onto the park by the players and officials of both teams.

However, the first real action did not arrive until the 13th minute when midfielder Peter Leven fashioned himself some space before thrashing a powerful 25-yard shot just over the Dunfermline crossbar.

Five minutes later the Fifers threatened for the first time and midfielder Lee Makel's in-swinging cross from the right was only just missed by striker Andy Tod in the six-yard box under pressure from Killie defender James Fowler.

Kilmarnock fought back, forcing a couple of corners in quick succession, and from Leven's second in the 26th minute they stole into the lead from an unlikely source.

The Killie midfielder's in-swinger from the right was met sweetly by skipper Locke whose header from six yards found its way through Dunfermline midfielder Craig Wilson on its way into the net.

It was the former Hearts' player's first goal of the season, a fine way to celebrate his new two-year deal signed on Friday.

The goal seemed to spark the Pars into life and they set about grabbing an equaliser with some zeal.

The game opened up now, swinging from end to end but there remained a lack of goal scoring opportunities.

And Leven's harmless 40th-minute free-kick from 30 yards which Derek Stillie saved easily, was typical of the lacklustre proceedings on show in front of goal.

The home side dramatically doubled their lead just barely 30 seconds after the restart with the simplest of goals.

Bustling striker Gary Wales fired in a low cross from the right which was laid off by Boyd to the waiting Dodds and the midfielder calmly stroked the ball past the partially unsighted Stillie from around 12 yards out.

It was Dodd's first goal for the Ayrshire club and it stunned the visitors although they should have pulled a goal back five minutes later.

Striker Derek Young cut the ball back from the bye line on the right hand side to brother Darren who was unmarked but the Pars midfielder scuffed his shot wide of the target from eight yards.

The Fifers now looked dishevelled though and in the 54th minute, as Dunfermline's defence crumbled, Kilmarnock grabbed a third goal through top scorer Boyd.

After Wales' shot was blocked at the edge of the Pars penalty box the ball fell to Steven Naismith on the right and when his cross-come-shot came into the six-yard box the Scotland Future player had the easiest of tasks to knock it into the net for his 19th of the season.

In the 64th minute the home side got their fourth with yet another easily conceded goal from the visitors point of view.

With the Fifers defence strewn all over, Naismith set up the unmarked McDonald on he right hand side and the Killie midfielder, playing out of position at right back, coolly stroked the ball with his left foot past the stranded Stillie and into the far corner of the net from around 16 yards out.

The Rugby Park men were toying with the ragged visitors now and Locke's 30-yard thunderbolt, which sailed high over the crossbar in the 76th minute, ended an almost embarrassing spell of possession by the home side.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Hay, Greer, Locke, McDonald, Dodds, Leven (Murray 73), Naismith (Johnston 73), Wales (Nish 81), Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Hamill, Loy, Wild.

Booked: Greer.

Goals: Locke 26, Dodds 46, Boyd 54, McDonald 64.

Dunfermline: Stillie, Campbell, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Darren Young, Mason, Derek Young (Donnelly 73), Craig Wilson (Labonte 84), Tod (Mehmet 62), Makel.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Hunt, Dunn, Ross.

Booked: Darren Young.

Att: 5,100

Ref: W Young (Scotland).