Dunfermline gave themselves the perfect send-off for next weekend's CIS Cup final with Celtic with victory to encourage their hopes of avoiding relegation another boost.

Mark Burchill's strike only three minutes into the second half and a tremendous rearguard effort late on were enough to see off former boss Jimmy Calderwood's Aberdeen side.

With relegation rivals Livingston and Falkirk both losing, the Pars went 10 points clear of the Almondvale side and leapfrogged bitter rivals Falkirk with the victory.

For the Fifers, the match represented the last opportunity for the players to play their way into manager Jim Leishman's cup final plans.

Leishman made four changes from the side which lost 1-0 away to Kilmarnock last weekend but it was his half-time alteration bringing on Frenchman Freddie Daquin that appeared to inject some urgency into the match and ultimately gave them all three points.

The home side appeared pumped up for the game at kick-off and made most of the running in the early stages.

The first opportunity of the match fell their way after only five minutes following a surging run from Scott Muirhead which earned the Pars a corner.

The former Aberdeen midfielder took the set-piece himself and when the loose ball broke to Greg Ross on the edge of the area the youngster, deputising in the Fifers' injury-hit central midfield area, scooped his shot narrowly over the bar.

Both sides were resorting to long balls which proved to be meat and drink for the defences at either end and clear-cut chances were few and far between in a poor first-half.

However, within three minutes of the restart, the Pars were ahead.

Noel Hunt's headed flick-on and Mark Burchill's lay-off to Scott Muirhead forced the Fifers deep into enemy territory.

The ball was eventually fed back to Hunt on the edge of the area and his mis-hit shot screwed off the turf perfectly for Burchill to side-foot home from only six yards out.

Dunfermline had their tails up at his point and a thrilling run from Daquin from the edge of his own area set up Hunt on the wing but this time Burchill could not direct his shot on target from the Irishman's cutback.

In the 54th minute the former Celtic marksman came even closer to extending his side's lead.

Daquin won a corner on the right which was swung into the danger area by Scott Muirhead and as Wilson prodded the ball back into a crowded goalmouth Burchill could only direct his header off the bar from barely three yards out.

Aberdeen boss Calderwood deployed his familiar tactic of going man for man in defence and pushing everyone else forward in pursuit of parity.

However, shots from Jon Stewart and Kyle Macauley which sailed over was all they could muster.

Aberdeen launched wave after wave of attacks in the closing minutes but the home rearguard held firm to earn what could be a vital three points in their bid for SPL survival.

Teams

Dunfermline McGregor, Labonte, Shields, Scott Wilson, Thomson,Ross, Mason, Derek Young (Daquin 45), Muirhead,Burchill (Tarachulski 81), Hunt (Tod 87).

Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Iain Campbell, Phinn, Donnelly.

Booked: Scott Wilson.

Goals: Burchill 48.

Aberdeen Langfield, Griffin (Stewart 64), Diamond, Anderson,McNaughton (Snoyl 57), Clark, Severin, Macauley (Dempsey 80),Foster, Crawford, Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Lovell, Considine, MacFarlane.

Att: 5,308

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).