A tremendous Steve Crawford first-half goal gave Dunfermline all three points against Dundee United at East End Park.

With his back to goal and marked closely by David Partridge, Crawford turned superbly to fire home from eight yards out.

But it was enough to separate the two sides, who put up an entertaining game for the poor crowd of 4,980.

The Pars consolidated their respectable league position but for United, another defeat keeps them firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

There was little between the teams in the early stages but Dunfermline's Barry Nicholson was making some good runs down the right hand side. All too often though his crosses failed to find a team-mate.

The home side forced a couple of early corners but the United defence handled the pressure well with Jason De Vos a commanding figure in the heart of the rearguard.

Steven McConalogue was looking lively and the winger had a 12th minute shot which Pars' keeper Marco Ruitenbeek did well to push away for a corner.

The best move of the game came in the 18th minute and again involved midfielder Nicholson.

The ex-Rangers man sent Junior Mendes away on the right and when the cross came over Stevie Crawford flashed his header just wide.

Minutes later Jason Dair had a great shot from 25 yards which United keeper Alan Combe did well to get his hands to.

The ball broke to the on-rushing David Moss but the Dunfermline striker headed wide with the goal gaping.

As the first half wore on there was no let up in effort but neither side could create any clear-cut chances.

Just as the game appeared to be heading for the break goalless, Dunfermline took the lead.

Nicholson slipped a nice ball to Mendes who subsequently found Crawford eight yards from goal. The ex-Hibs player turned superbly to slam the ball past a helpless Combe.

It was United who started the second half more positively, clearly intent on getting a quick equaliser.

After 49 minutes Ruitenbeek again did well to save from a McConalogue corner, pushing the little winger's header onto the bar and over for a corner.

Six minutes later the Tayside team missed a glorious chance to equalise when McConalogue raced to the byline and swung over a tremendous cross which David Hannah ran on to meet.

The United midfielder looked certain to score but somehow failed to connect properly and his header from four yards went wide of the post.

Minutes later Tcami had a header on goal saved by Ruitenbeek as the visitors continued to press for the equaliser.

At the other end, the home side had a spell of pressure in which Mendes was unlucky with an angled shot from 10 yards which flashed across the United goal.

The home side nearly made it 2-0 in 80 minutes when a Crawford shot from 10 yards was well blocked by Combe.

Two minutes from the end United substitute Steven Thompson came close with a header but United just had run out of luck.