Goals from Scott Thomson and Chris McGroarty gave Dunfermline the points over relegation-threatened St Mirren.

It was a comfortable victory for the home side who missed a barrow load of chances in a game which they dominated almost from the first whistle.

The Pars enjoyed their first effort on goal after only three minutes. Midfielder Scott Thomson drove towards the Saints box unchallenged before unleashing a vicious 20-yard shot.

But the visitors' on-loan goalkeeper Ian McCaldon dived to his left to save at the expense of a corner.

Minutes later, Stevie Crawford linked well with David Moss but the ex-Hibs player's shot from the edge of the box was high and wide.

Dunfermline continued to dominate although they were nearly caught out in the 22nd minute in a rare Saints attack.

Striker Maikel Renfrum was allowed to turn in the box and get a shot in from 12 yards but Ruitenbeek was well placed to save.

Minutes later a Sergei Baltacha shot from the edge of the box nearly caught Ruitenbeek at his near post and the keeper had to move quickly to punch the ball away for a corner.

But Dunfermline remained firmly in control although their fans became frustrated as Ian Ferguson and Crawford both missed good chances.

But there was no surprise when the home side took the lead in the 38th minute.

Barry Nicholson and Crawford worked a one-two at the edge of the Saints box but McCaldon brought off a great save from Crawford's strike.

The ball flew out to Thomson 10 yards from goal and the midfielder quickly drove it back through a forest of legs and into the back of the net.

The home side almost doubled their lead within a minute of the restart. McGroarty raced down the left and his cross was met by the head of Crawford six yards from goal. But once again McCaldon was a hero for Saints with a great reflex save.

The visitors seemed powerless to halt the tide as Dunfermline went all out to get the clinching second goal.

There was no surprise and Dunfermline added a second in the 73rd minute. It was a great solo goal form young defender McGroarty who went on a dribble through the Saints defence before driving a low shot past McCaldon from 16 yards.

It was a tremendous piece of skill from the youngster who had posed problems for the visitors all afternoon.

As the game drew to a close gaps opened up at either end and five minutes from the finish Thomson's shot from the edge of the box beat McCaldon but hit the post before rebounding to safety.