The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Red-hot striker Clark fires Pars into top four
Dunfermline: Ex-Gers forward hits second hat-trick in 11 days to strengthen play-off bid
DUNFERMLINE 3 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1
Dunfermline striker Nicky Clark is in the middle of a purple patch at the moment after grabbing his second hat-trick in 11 days to give his side a well-deserved victory over one of his former clubs, promotion rivals Queen of the South.
The Pars also appear to be hitting top form at just the right time as they extended their unbeaten run to five matches and moved into the final play-off spot on goal difference, although fifthplaced Dundee United do have two games in hand.
Clark has now hoisted his season’s tally to 20 – seven of those coming in his last three outings – and manager Allan Johnston was quick to sing his praises in the post-match press conference, calling him “a predator in the penalty box”.
Dad Sandy, a top-class forward himself and now Johnston’s assistant at East End Park, may be more difficult to please, however, and Clark Jr joked: “I don’t know about that!”
The 26-year-old’s first two goals on Saturday came five minutes apart during a first half which the home team totally dominated.
Queens had won 5-2 on their previous visit last December, but the absence of their own goal machine, Stephen Dobbie, left them seriously lacking in firepower.
Fraser Aird created a headed opener for Clark in the 33rd minute before Declan McManus turned provider for the second.
Dunfermline’s two-goal buffer proved useful in the second period after Jordan Marshall pulled one back for a muchimproved Queens side to set up a nervy last 20 minutes.
Clark had the final word, though, burying another header three minutes into stoppage-time to clinch a crucial three points for the Fifers.
“That’s another match ball for me, so long may that continue,” he said, while juggling the match ball in question.
“I’d say I’m quite a confident person and I go into every game thinking that I’ll get at least one chance to score a goal.
“I was delighted with all three goals today, but if I had to pick one out of the three, then I’d probably go with the second one. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
“I’m delighted that the goals keep coming, not just for myself but for the team as well.
“With only five games to go, it’s a really good time to score goals and play well, and the whole team is doing that right now. We played really well in the first half today but we didn’t start the second half very well and we let them back in the game.
“But we dug in well and managed to hold on and get the three points.
“It’s another big game against Livingston here on Tuesday.
“We just need to recover from this and come in to training on Monday and get ourselves ready for Tuesday night.”