Falkirk's search for a home win in the Bank of Scotland Premier League will continue into the new year after Dunfermline claimed the derby points in a thrilling game at the Falkirk Stadium.

Former Scotland striker Mark Burchill fired the Pars ahead on the stroke of half-time with a fierce low drive from inside the box and his strike partner Noel Hunt doubled the advantage 13 minutes into the second half with a looping header.

Darryl Duffy gave the home side hope with a goal in the 68th minute but despite some intense late pressure and a plethora of chances it was to prove just a consolation.

John Hughes' side have now failed to win in 11 SPL games at the Falkirk Stadium and their home form means they are in danger of being dragged into the relegation battle.

The win for Dunfermline means Jim Leishman's men move off the bottom of the table above Livingston and, on the back of the Boxing Day draw with Rangers, they go into 2006 in much better heart.

With Alan Gow relegated to the bench, Russell Latapy lined up just behind leading scorer Duffy and Falkirk's two star men combined in the fifth minute in a move which resulted in the young Scottish forward being hauled down by three Pars defenders just outside the box.

The Bairns, with Tiago Rodrigues recalled to a three-man backline, edged the first quarter-hour with Duffy's pace and Latapy always a threat but, as has been typical of their season, they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Their rhythm was disrupted just after the 15-minute mark, though, when Steven Thomson - drafted in due to Stephen O'Donnell's suspension - had to be withdrawn with a foot injury from the action with Ryan McStay taking his place in midfield.

With the home side losing their early fluency, Dunfermline grew in confidence as the half progressed and in the 32nd minute Burchill nearly put the Pars ahead when he was just inches away from getting a touch to Greg Ross' cross.

That seemed to reawaken the Bairns and former Rangers reserve player Duffy, after being sent clear by Neil Scally, dinked the ball cleverly over Allan McGregor but saw his effort agonisingly hit the crossbar.

Another chance came along a couple of minutes later when Craig Ireland rose highest to meet Latapy's corner but McGregor - back in Dunfermline's goal after missing the game against his 'own' club Rangers - did well to push the Falkirk captain's header away to safety.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring, though, when Burchill latched onto a loose ball in the box and lashed a left-footed drive past Matt Glennon in the last minute of the half.

The half started with a whimper and it took until the 56th minute for an opening to be created, Latapy twisting and turning in the box to make space for a shot which McGregor handled efficiently.

In a bid to spark an equaliser Hughes made a highly positive substitution, introducing striker Daniel McBreen in place of defender Craig McPherson.

Seconds after the change was made, though, suddenly Falkirk's task doubled when Dunfermline increased their lead 13 minutes into the half via Hunt, who looped a header from Darren Young's free kick beyond Glennon.

Burchill could have made it 3-0 just after the hour mark when he pounced on some dithering by Rodrigues - who was replaced a minute later by Gow - before lashing wildly over.

The Bairns gave themselves a lifeline in the 68th minute when Duffy, attracting interest from Hull, side-footed Gow's left-wing cross home from close range.

Gow nearly netted the equaliser on 71 minutes when he picked up a rebound off Duffy and chipped McGregor but just like his strike partner in the first half he agonisingly saw his effort hit the woodwork.

McGregor kept the home side out 13 minutes from time when he brilliantly tipped away Scally's shot, which looked to be curling towards the top corner.

It was all Falkirk now and in the 82nd minute McBreen headed just inches over from Gow's excellent left-wing cross.

Then for the third time in the match, the woodwork denied the Bairns when a fine free-kick from the impressive Gow hit the outside of the post as the Pars breathed another sigh of relief.

McGregor denied the home side for the final time in the third minute of injury time when he tipped over a shot which deflected off Andy Tod as the Pars hung on for the win.

Teams

Falkirk Glennon, Lawrie, McPherson (McBreen 57), Rodrigues (Gow 64), Ireland, Scally, Milne, Steven Thomson (McStay 16), Lima, Duffy, Latapy.

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Moutinho, O'Neil, Twaddle.

Booked: Rodrigues.

Goals: Duffy 68.

Dunfermline McGregor, Shields, Ross, Tod, Scott Wilson, Darren Young, Thomson, McCunnie, Mason, Burchill (Tarachulski 82), Hunt (Labonte 88).

Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Campbell, Craig Wilson, Dunn.

Booked: Tod, Mason, Hunt.

Goals: Burchill 45, Hunt 58.

Att: 6,235

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).