Dunfermline sting the Jags
Lewis Martin put Dunfermline two ahead in 10 minutes, firing in a low shot from Kiltie’s pass and a second penalty, awarded shortly afterwards when Reece Cole upended Nisbet, gave the striker the opportunity to add to his tally and make it 3-0.
Nisbet completed his hat-trick just after the half-hour with a blistering 20-yard shot and he recorded his fourth of the afternoon early in the second half, knocking the ball past overworked Jags keeper James Sneddon from close range after being set up by Tom Beadling.
In the midst of this Fife goalfest, the numerically disadvantaged visitors, who were forced to sacrifice Joe Cardle early on as Mccall restructured his side in the aftermath of O’ware’s dismissal, had offered absolutely nothing in attack, having spent the bulk of the game battling to stem the relentless flow of Dunfermline attacks.
The frustration of the travelling support was evident as early as the 30th minute when the Thistle fans began trickling towards the East End Park exits.
But those who stayed at least had the consolation of seeing their team claw a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, Cole curling home a 35-yard free-kick.
“I can’t analyse that display,” said a clearly shaken Thistle gaffer Ian Mccall. “We were confident of winning but the game was turned on its head after four minutes. It was an awful day for the club.”
DUNFERMLINE:
(4-4-2) Gill 5, Comrie 6, Devine 6, Ashcroft 6, Martin 7, Dow 6 (Thomson 63,5), Beadling 7, Paton 5 (Cochrane 46, 5), Kiltie 7, Nisbet 9 (Mcgill 56, 5). Unused – Swinton, Turner, Edwards, Mccann
PARTICK THISTLE:
(4-3-3) Sneddon 5, Kakay 5, Saunders 4 (Palmer 57,4), O’ware 1, Penrice 5, Slater 5, Brannigan 6, Cole 5, Cardle 1 (Mcginty 6, 6), Miller 6, Zanatta 5 (Robson 46, 4). Unused – Scullion, Jones, Hawkins, Da Vita