Skipper Murray at the double as Pars claim bragging rights with win over Bairns

This was a derby that lacked its usual fiery atmosphere in the stands but Dunfermline skipper Euan Murray is sure to still treasure his second- half double that saw off bitter rivals Falkirk.

The defender twice nodded in deliveries from the excellent

Dom Thomas to rack up backto- back Betfred Cup victories and ensure it was the Fifers who head home with the bragging rights.

It was a game with a difference in an eerie East End Park but the tie certainly did not lack any intensity. With changing rooms at either end of the ground, the players were kept apart until the first whistle but it was not long before tackles were flying in and fouls were being committed.

And t here were only t wo minutes g one when Dunf ermline claimed they had taken the lead.

Dom Thomas took an age to retrieve Mark Durnan’s wayward clearance from the away stand. But he was sharp as a tack with his eventual low corner, which he was adamant he had swerved in at the near post before Falkirk keeper Robbie Mutch desperately palmed it away.

The Pars had the ball in the net in the 16th minute but referee Grant I r vine belatedly blew for a foul on Mutch and, having survived an early onslaught, Falkirk will feel they should have made the breakthrough just short of the half- hour mark.

Callumn Morrison picked out his old Hearts team- mate Aidan Keena but the striker’s header was too straight and Owain Fon Williams stopped the effort on the line.

Fa l k i r k h a d g a i n e d

t h e u p p e r h a n d a s t h e i n t e r - va l a p p r o a c he d a n d t he y screamed f or a penalt y as Ben Hall headed against the outstretched arm of Declan Mcmanus from a corner but their loud appeals were waved away.

The second half opened with Dunfermline on the front foot again and they finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Thomas won and then took a free- kick on the left and his wonderful delivery picked out t he unmarked Murray who nodded home.

And the same players combined for the second just seven minutes later.

This time, Thomas swerved over a corner from the left and Murray was the most determined in a crowded six- yard box to bundle in his header.

Murray was only i nches away from an unlikely hattrick but he could not reach another Thomas free- kick as he bore down on goal.