A Derek Young over-head strike 17 minutes from time handed Dunfermline a deserved three points at the expense of Motherwell at East End Park.

Terry Butcher's Well side had looked like frustrating their hosts and defended doggedly throughout the 90 minutes.

But the Fir Park men were hit by a killer blow in the second half when the former Aberdeen man pounced to sweep Stevie Crawford's overhead kick into the net.

The Steelmen had matched the Pars throughout the first-half, but Jimmy Calderwood's side were a different proposition after the break and dominated from then on.

But Butcher must have realised it wasn't going to be his day when goalkeeper Gordon Marshall picked up an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Barry-John Corr.

Play started apace with both sides going close in the opening five minutes.

Alex Burns raced through one-on-one with home goalkeeper Derek Stillie, who blocked the effort, and Andrius Skerla's follow-up clearance looped in the air and headed netwards.

David Clarkson challenged the goalkeeper but Stillie recovered his position and managed to send a punch clear.

The Pars were unlucky not to have taken the lead when Craig Brewster spun and thrashed a Barry Nicholson pass over the crossbar.

Derek Young then nodded the ball into his path inside the area and Brewster trapped it before duping a defender into believing he was set to shoot - and then dragged it past his opponent to create an opening.

But Motherwell closed in quickly and the Pars' man couldn't find a way past Martyn Corrigan's outstretched leg.

Dunfermline were forced into a change when Nicholson picked up an injury and was replaced by Greg Shields for his first appearance since re-signing for the club from Kilmarnock.

However, the home side then created the best chance of the first half and, ironically, it fell to defender Skerla.

The Lithuanian raced the length of the field to get up alongside the attack and met Brewster's lay-off wide on the right-hand side.

He homed in on Corr, let him go to ground and lifted the ball over his body, but his shot dragged wide and landed on the wrong side of the post.

Dunfermline had gained the upper hand going into the final 20 minutes and were dominating much of the play and the inevitable opener arrived in the 73rd minute.

Derek Young was waiting on the six-yard line and, when Crawford's overhead kick spun towards him, he simply used his upper body strength to hold off a defender, turn him and fire the ball over his own shoulder into the net.

Gaining the lead signalled the end of Brewster's participation in the match, as Calderwood immediately brought on Aaron Labonte.

Motherwell also made a change, introducing Australian striker Scott McDonald for Keith Lasley.

Unfortunately for the Steelmen, the Pars squeezed the life out of the game in the closing stages and played down the clock to three well-deserved points.

Teams

Dunfermline: Stillie, Nicholson (Shields 35), Scott Wilson, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Dempsey (Tod 84), Darren Young, Mason, Derek Young, Crawford, Brewster (Labonte 75).

Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, Hunt.

Booked: Darren Young.

Goals: Derek Young 73.

Motherwell: Corr, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Lasley (Scott McDonald 79), Adams, O'Donnell, Dair, Burns, Clarkson.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Bollan, Fagan, Kinniburgh.

Booked: Craigan.

Att: 5,270

Ref: D MacDonald (Scotland).