The Bank of Scotland Premier League's bottom side Dunfermline took a step closer to survival in an eventful 4-1 win against Motherwell at East End Park which dragged the Steelmen firmly into a three-way relegation battle.

Goals by James O'Brien, Scott Wilson, Stephen Glass and substitute Jim Hamilton confirmed an easy victory for the fired-up Pars who are a point behind St Mirren and five behind the Steelmen with two games remaining.

In a crazy second half, Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds was sent off for a deliberate hand ball and Wilson was red-carded for a last man foul on Well substitute Ross McCormack.

Motherwell striker Scott McDonald, who scored a consolation from the spot, was sent off 60 seconds later for a late challenge on Scott Muirhead.

It was a messy end to a game which Dunfermline controlled from the start but when the dust settles, Motherwell should fear for their SPL place.

As the SPL's relegation battle braces itself for a tense finale, Dunfermline take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the weekend with Motherwell facing St Mirren at Fir Park.

In a whirlwind start to the match it took only six minutes for the Fifers to take the lead.

Tom McManus sent Adam Hamill free down the left and the Liverpudlian made a yard of space against Well defender Martyn Corrigan before firing a cross into the box.

The ball evaded everyone before landing at O'Brien at the back post and the midfielder quickly brought it under control before driving past Fir Park keeper Graeme Smith from eight yards out.

The visitors were clearly rattled but while they tried to compose themselves the Pars doubled their lead just four minutes later.

Midfielder Glass fired in a looping but powerful free-kick from around 40 yards out and Wilson climbed high above Corrigan in the six-yard box to power a header past the helpless Smith.

The Lanarkshire side looked like they would collapse but moments later, in their first attack of the game, striker McDonald drove the ball low across the Dunfermline six-yard box and out for a goal kick, the effort sparking off a brief but fruitless spell of pressure.

Dunfermline's ferocious start to proceedings had left them breathless and as they looked for their second wind, the Lanarkshire side came back in to the match.

However, the Pars, with five consecutive clean sheets behind them, looked solid in defence, Wilson and Sol Bamba taking care of the aerial threat with relative ease.

The Fifers retained an element of threat on the counter and just after the half-hour mark a McManus cross from the right evaded the on-rushing Hamill by inches.

In the 36th minute, however, McDonald missed a great chance to pull a goal back when midfielder Kristian Vadocz sent the Celtic-bound striker clean through on goal.

The little Australian knocked the ball past Dunfermline keeper Dorus De Vries from 14 yards out but watched in agony as it trundled past the far post.

The visitors had been booed off by their small band of fans at the interval and they might have had more to complain about at the start of the second half after skipper Stephen Craigan had barged Jim McIntyre 30 yards from goal.

Only 49 seconds had elapsed when McManus' curled free-kick had Smith scrambling to touch over for a corner.

But a difficult job for Motherwell looked impossible in the 57th minute when McIntyre latched on to a deft McManus flick inside the Well box only to be barged to the ground by Paul Quinn.

Glass stepped up to slam the penalty low into the net via the post with Smith diving the wrong way.

Motherwell's response was instant but again paid no dividend.

McDonald's angled drive from 16 yards was tipped past the post for a corner by De Vries, seconds before the Dutch keeper knocked a powerful drive from distance by substitute Ross McCormack, on for David Clarkson, over the bar.

In the 68th minute there was more trouble for the visitors when defender Reynolds was adjudged to have deliberately prevented a Glass through ball reaching McIntyre with his hand, the youngster being shown a red card by referee Dougie McDonald for his troubles.

The contest was over but Dunfermline's appetite for more goals seemed insatiable and they continued to press.

But in the 86th minute Wilson was also sent off for a foul on McCormack which allowed McDonald to score a consolation from the spot.

Incredibly, a minute later, McDonald was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Muirhead.

In the dying seconds, Pars substitute Hamilton who was on for McManus, made it 4-1 with a close-range header to complete a crazy night in Fife.

Teams:

Dunfermline De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Bamba, Glass,O'Brien (Daquin 74), Mason, Muirhead, Hammill,McManus (Hamilton 84), McIntyre (Burchill 71).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Woods, McCunnie, Young.

Sent Off: Wilson (86).

Booked: Burchill.

Goals: O'Brien 6, Wilson 11, Glass 58 pen, Hamilton 90.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Reynolds, Craigan, Quinn,Vadocz, Kerr, Darren Smith (Fitzpatrick 71),Paterson (Keegan 80), McDonald, Clarkson (McCormack 54).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Kinniburgh, McBride, McGarry.

Sent Off: Reynolds (68), McDonald (88).

Booked: Corrigan.

Goals: McDonald 87 pen.

Att: 6,662

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).