Kilmarnock delivered the classic two minute knockout in the second half and went on to score another three to consolidate their hopes of a place in Europe next season.

At the same time, they propelled the home team deeper into relegation trouble.

With so much at stake for both sides the game began very tentatively with caution the order of the day.

But Killie took control when Alan Mahood beat a defender out on the right and crossed to John Henry who toed the ball past keeper Lee Butler from four yards.

The Pars had their own chances, with Scott Thompson twice unlucky not to equalise, but in the second half things changed dramatically.

On 56 minutes keeper Butler brilliantly saved a Henry shot but the rebound off his body was rifled back to the net from close in by Ally Mitchell.

Two minutes later a completely unmarked Ian Durrant placed a lob into the back of the net from 12 yards.

Dunfermline's heads went down and the visitors went on to punish them severely for their lack of fight.

Jerome Vareille celebrated his return after several months of injury with his team's fourth goal in the 68th minute, a clever acute angled shot from a Durrant cross.

Vareille then left the field for a well-earned rest five minutes later.

In the 75th minute Henry got his second with a splendid long range shot.

Killie toyed with Dunfermline and substitute Ally McCoist clinched the issue with the sixth goal in the 90th minute.

Teams

Dunfermline: Butler, Millar (Squires 78), Shields, Tod, Huxford (Smith 45), Dolan, Dair, Thomson, Petrie, Coyle, Graham (Nish 63).

Subs Not Used: Westwater, McGroaty.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Innes, Lauchlan, Kerr, Henry, Durrant (Wright 76), Mahood, Reilly, Vareille (McCutcheon 73), Mitchell (McCoist 78).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Burke.

Booked: Mitchell, Innes.

Goals: Henry 26, Mitchell 56, Durrant 58, Vareille 68, Henry 75, McCoist 90.

Att: 5,617

Ref: S Dougal (Burnside).