After a summer of uncertainty wondering which division they would be playing their football in this season, Dunfermline began the new campaign unsure of what kind of future lay ahead.
Yet, after this rout of Livingston made it five wins from six league outings, manager Jim Jefferies must now be in no doubt he has a team capable of going on to earn the right to return to the SPL via promotion on the pitch.
It took the Pars until April to rack up their first home victory of last term in the top-flight but they now have three in a row.
Andy Barrowman netted six times in the top flight but his double on Saturday ensured the on-form striker has surpassed that total by taking his tally to seven.
With confidence coursing through the side at present and a visibly strong team spirit, the Fifers have every right to approach Wednesday night’s Scottish Communities League Cup tie at home to Aberdeen believing they can cause an upset.
Ryan Wallace unselfishly laid the opener on a plate for the supporting Barrowman after 25 minutes.
Five minutes later, Barrowman brilliantly sought out the run of skipper Jordan McMillan from the right flank and the right-back bore his way into the box before drilling low past Andy McNeil.
Ryan Thomson added a third in the 61st minute when he ran on to Barrowman’s header down to nod over McNeil and it was no more than the dominant Pars merited.
Barrowman then netted the fourth, and his own second, four minutes later as he raced on to Stephen Husband’s chipped through ball to lob over the advancing McNeil.
Jefferies revealed afterwards that assistant Gerry McCabe had described the display as the best he’s seen from Dunfermline “for a long time”.
He said: “I never knew how this season was going to go because it was a new team and a young team. I knew Partick Thistle were going to be strong and will be there and be the favourites.
“But we’ve proved we can be up there challenging and that’s credit to the boys.”