Both teams went into this encounter still searching for their first Scottish Premier League win of the season, and their edginess showed in the opening minutes as clumsy mistakes led to both teams gifting the other possession.

But Steven Hammell displayed a flash of inspiration for the home side after four minutes when he went on a surging run, only for Lee McCulloch to spoil the move by failing to connect with Hammell's through ball into the box.

A few minutes later and it was Dunfermline's turn to have a go, when Scott Thomson just skimmed the crossbar with a set piece from 25 yards.

But it was Motherwell who were proving to be the more productive, and Martyn Corrigan almost provided the opener when he met Kevin Twaddle's cross and unleashed a shot from the edge of the 18-yard area which went just wide on 13 minutes.

Twaddle turned provider again almost immediately when he floated a cross to McCulloch at the far post, but the danger was cleared by former Rangers right-back, Barry Nicholson.

At the other end of the park Stevie Crawford looked certain to find the net for the Pars, as he burst through on goal, but was denied by veteran keeper Andy Goram.

David Moss had a good opportunity to put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes, from a Junior Mendes cross, bot nodded over the crossbar.

And Mendes, himself had a great chance seven minutes later. A Corrigan blunder gifted possession to Stevie Crawford, who squared to Mendes in front of goal - but, with only Goram to beat, the former St Mirren striker sent the ball over the bar.

Motherwell were unlucky not to take the lead 10 minutes before the break. A Greg Strong header smacked off the crossbar before falling at the feet of McCulloch but his rebounded shot was cleared off the line by Nicholson.

Scott Leitch looked to have had a bad start to his home debut when he clashed with Stevie Crawford right before the interval and had to be stretchered off.

But the knock looked to be worse than it really was and he returned to the park a few minutes later after receiving treatment.

Two minutes after the break John Spencer tested the Dunfermline rearguard when he turned well on the edge of the box, before releasing a powerful shot, but the effort just curled wide.

Seconds later Stephen McMillan looked to have started a good move down the left flank but was muscled to the ground by Pars skipper Ian Ferguson, who promptly found his name added to referee Douglas McDonald's book.

The breakthrough came in 55 minutes when the visitors took the lead. A long ball by Ferguson into the box was picked up by David Moss and his looping header floated over Goram into the top corner of the net.

Well had the chance to equalise almost immediately when Derek Townsley fed McCulloch in front of goal. But the striker hesitated, giving Jason Dair the opportunity to clear the danger.

Spencer should have rifled home the leveller in 69 minutes when he looked to have rounded keeper Marco Ruitenbeek but the diminutive striker inexplicably crumpled in the box and was cautioned for diving.

A few moments later Don Goodman came close for the home side when he sent a Derek Adams cross just wide of the post.

With 10 minutes to go, Motherwell's frustration started to show and both Goodman and Strong wasted good chances by smashing the ball over the crossbar in a bid to take a point from the game.

Spencer was on target in 84 minutes when he rocketed a shot towards goal, only to be denied by the Dutch 'keeper, and Goodman should have been more alert to knock home the rebound.

Intro: Dunfermline finally picked up their first three Scottish Premier League points since promotion from the First Division after a hard-fought battle at Motherwell.

Both teams were searching for their first win of the season, and for long periods of the game Motherwell looked the more likely team to emerge victorious.

But a second-half David Moss header beat 'keeper Andy Goram and sealed the win for the Pars.