PARS ON HIGH AS ASHCROFT RISES TO HEAD IN WINNER

DUNFERMLINE clinched victory thanks to Lee Ashcroft’s late header at Palmerston to climb into the top four and plunge Queens deeper into relegation trouble.

The Doonhamers struck early on when Gary Oliver’s effort from the edge of the box cannoned in off the post.

But the Pars levelled soon after with Gabriel McGill converting from close range after Jonathan Afolabi’s header from Ryan Dow’s cross rattled the bar.

Dunfermline went in front before the break when Danny Devine headed home a Dom Thomas corner, but Stephen Dobbie’s penalty levelled things during the second half.

The Pars grabbed victory with eight minutes left when Ashcroft’s header following a corner flew into the net.

Pars boss Stevie Crawford said: ‘We could have gone up the road accepting a point but managed to grind it out.’

Queens manager Allan Johnston added: ‘We worked hard to get back into the game but we have to defend better.’