Dunfermline confirmed their Bank of Scotland Premier League status with a 3-2 win over Motherwell in an entertaining encounter at Fir Park.

An impressive Jim Paterson strike after six minutes gave the home side the lead but a wonderful volley from Iain Campbell and a Mark Burchill penalty gave the Fifers the interval advantage and a Gary Mason goal shortly after the break appeared to put the visitors into an unassailable position.

However, a Stephen Craigan strike set the game up for an exciting finale but despite a late siege towards the Pars' penalty area the visitors held on and now cannot be caught by bottom side Livingston.

A distinct end-of-season atmosphere pervaded the match which started in glorious sunshine in front to a shirt-sleeved crowd who were probably not expecting too much in the way of excitement. But in fact they were rewarded with a cracking 90 minutes.

There was some early excitement when a careless clearance from Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith in the opening seconds struck the foot of the on-rushing Pars striker Bartosz Tarachulski before bouncing behind for a goal-kick.

Thereafter followed little of note but in the sixth minute the home side took the lead with an impressive Paterson goal.

Motherwell defender Steven Hammell knocked a pass into the Fifers' penalty area from the left-hand side and the ball was only partially cleared to Paterson 25 yards from goal.

The 'Well player quickly turned onto his right foot and drove a wonderful shot past Pars goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who was rooted to the spot.

The Fir Park side had control and in the 17th minute a left-footed drive from Paterson 25 yards out had McGregor parrying the ball into the air before Scott Thomson completed the clearance.

But in the 19th minute the visitors were level after slack defending in the home defence.

Motherwell failed to clear their penalty area during a rather tame Fifers' attack and Tarachulski robbed Phil O'Donnell on the right and crossed to the far post where Campbell struck a glorious left-footed volley which sped past Smith and went in off the far post

The game swung from end to end and was developing into an enthralling encounter between two sets of players apparently unencumbered by pressure.

In the 28th minute the visitors were awarded a penalty by referee Charlie Richmond when it appeared that Brian McLean, among a throng of players, clumsily bundled Burchill to the ground after the ex-Celtic player had tried to shield and lay off a Scott Wilson header 12 yards from goal.

The Pars striker dusted himself down and sent Smith the wrong way with a coolly executed spot-kick.

The Fifers were now looking comfortable with their lead while the early enthusiasm shown by Motherwell was slowly turning to desperation.

Dunfermline went straight onto the offensive after the interval and their small band of supporters could hardly believe their eyes when the Fifers almost casually made it 3-1 after 50 minutes.

Burchill worked a clever one-two with Tarachulski and when the Polish striker's cut-back from the right came across the six-yard box, Mason bundled it over the line past a hesitant-looking Smith.

Play seemed to stop for a moment as the home side appealed for offside and even referee Richmond had a look at his assistant before pointing to the centre circle.

The Lanarkshire side were stunned and 'Well manager Terry Butcher made a double substitution moments later, bringing off David Clarkson and Richie Foran for Scott McDonald and Kevin McBride.

The Pars survived a penalty claim in the 57th minute when a McBride corner appeared to strike Wilson on the hand and it seemed as if the visitors were enjoying more than their fair share of luck.

Motherwell were desperately trying to get back into the match and in the 65th minute Craigan picked up a McDonald cut-back and drove tremendous shot from the edge of the box past the flailing McGregor.

The Fir Park men were reinvigorated and moments later McDonald drove a left-footed shot from similar distance inches past the left-hand post before powering in a point-blank header which the Pars keeper brilliantly blocked.

Another fine McGregor save, this time from Jim Hamilton's close-range header, maintained the visitors' fragile advantage.

There were cried of a penalty from the home fans in the 85th minute when McDonald was bundled to the ground by Aaron Labonte but this time referee Richmond waved play on.

Then, in the first minute of injury time the inspired McGregor parried a Paterson free-kick from distance wide of the target.

Teams:

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell,Foran (McBride 54), Kerr, O'Donnell, Paterson, Hamilton,Clarkson (McDonald 54), McDonald (McGarry 86).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Paul Quinn, Fitzpatrick, Reynolds.

Goals: Paterson 7, Craigan 65.

Dunfermline McGregor, Shields, Scott Wilson,Thomson (Craig Wilson 73), Iain Campbell, Daquin, Ross, Mason,Labonte, Burchill (Andy Campbell 71), Tarachulski (Simmons 80).

Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Phinn, McCunnie, Camano.

Booked: Scott Wilson, McGregor.

Goals: Iain Campbell 21, Burchill 30 pen, Mason 50.

Att: 3,621

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).