St Mirren held on for their second win of the season after two first-half goals sank Dunfermline 2-1.

Jamie McGowan and Mark Yardley gave the Paisley side the advantage going into the interval with early goals.

And new signing Graham Fenton also had chances to mark his debut with a goal.

But a Jason Dair strike after the break ensured a closely-fought second half.

This was the first meeting between St Mirren and Dunfermline since both teams won promotion to the Premier League and the opening minutes of the game proved to be fast and furious.

After just four minutes, Steven McGarry went on a good run down the right and crossed to Yardley but the big Saints striker failed to connect properly.

Two minutes later it was Pars' turn to threaten. Barry Nicholson found Stevie Crawford from a tight angle but goalkeeper Ludovic Roy scooped up before Crawford could pull the trigger.

St Mirren manager Tom Hendrie had handed new signing Fenton a place in the starting line-up and he almost made an impact after nine minutes.

Hugh Murray floated a cross into the box but the former Leicester striker's header was blocked by the Dunfermline goalkeeper.

Dunfermline had looked menacing for the first 20 minutes but it was Saints who grabbed the lead.

Ricky Gillies' corner pinpointed McGowan in the box but his header was blocked by Marco Ruitenbeek.

But McGowan was quick to pounce on the rebound and made amends when he rammed home the opener after 21 minutes.

McGarry almost added the second just three minutes later when he burst through the middle but this time the Dunfermline goalkeeper managed to clear the danger.

Just before the half-hour mark, Nicholson almost equalised with an opportunist strike from 20 yards. But his shot was slightly off target and smashed into the side-netting.

St Mirren doubled their advantage after 32 minutes when McGarry found himself with the ball just in front of the six-yard line.

He spotted Yardley unmarked just outside the 18 yard box and cut the ball back to the big hit-man who rifled his shot into the top corner of the net.

Six minutes before the break Iain Nicolson almost grabbed number three when he fired a shot towards goal but was denied by Ruitenbeek who managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Again Dunfermline were left vulnerable at the resultant corner and defender Scott Walker nodded inches wide.

Former St Mirren striker Junior Mendes had been continually jeered throughout the first half and it was a challenge on the former Chelsea man that led to McGowan being the first player to be cautioned.

Dunfermline were the first to mount a serious attack after the break.

Skipper Ian Ferguson tried a long, low drive after 55 minutes which cut through the Saints defence but was well held by the St Mirren goalkeeper.

Fenton had a glorious chance to mark his debut with a goal when he skipped around Andrius Skerla but his shot hit the side-netting.

That effort proved to be his last as he was replaced by Jose Quitongo after 63 minutes.

Jason Dair had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he brought Dunfermline back into the game.

Yardley tried to nod a Pars corner clear but the ball only went as far as Dair, who blasted into the top corner of the net.

Ferguson had picked up a yellow card just before the hour mark and it proved to be costly on 78 minutes when he was sent off for a challenge on Quitongo.

Nicolson had the chance to put the game beyond Dunfermline when he met a Murray cross just outside the 18-yard box but was denied by the keeper after 86 minutes.

The only down-side of the day for St Mirren came when young striker McGarry had to be stretchered off.