Raith Rovers moved to just one point behind Dunfermline at the top of the first division after a 2-1 victory in a frenetic Fife derby.
The Stark’s Park side opened the scoring in the second half through man-of-the-match Mark Campbell.
They only held their lead for three minutes when Nick Phinn equalised, but Rovers kept their nerve and made it a very happy start to the year when Gregory Tade netted a superb winner.
Delighted Raith boss John McGlynn said, “That was a great performance and a wonderful advert for first division football.
“It was end-to-end stuff, and I thought both teams were attack minded. We started the second half well and took the game to Dunfermline.
“We got a nice early goal, but I was disappointed when we conceded.
“There was then a big question mark over our players as to whether they could come back, and I felt they showed tremendous character to do so.
“It was a magnificent finish by Tade and was worthy of winning any match.”
He added, “It is a great victory for us and puts us one point behind Dunfermline with a game in hand.”
His opposite number, Jim McIntyre, said, “I thought our final ball let us down at times and a lack of quality cost us.Good foul”At the second goal there is such a thing as a good foul and maybe taking a booking for the team.
“People may not like hearing that, but it is the professional side of the game where you have to use a wee bit of nous.
“We did not do it and let Tade go and hit a great finish.
“We will be looking for a positive reaction and I believe I have the players to do that. They are hurting in that dressing-room.”
McGlynn selected the same starting line-up for the third game in succession, while McIntyre made the one change with Andy Kirk-who scored his 14th goal of the season in midweek against Cowdenbeath-being replaced by Pat Clarke.
The Pars opened brightly with young Paul Willis cashing in on a Wille Dyer error in just the fourth minute to cut in from the right and hit a fierce shot across the face of David McGurn’s goal.
With so much at stake, little quarter was asked or given in the early exchanges, but referee Charlie Richmond showed he would accept no nonsense either when he booked Allan Walker for a late challenge on Phinn in the 13th minute.
Indeed, the referee was the dominant figure as the first quarter passed with little goalmouth action but plenty of whistle for niggling fouls.
In fact, it was the 24th minute before either keeper had a save to make when the Pars’ Chris Smith easily held a speculative John Baird shot from 25 yards.
Shortly after, Tade burst down the right and beat Austin McCann and Davie Graham before sending over a tempting cross towards Scott McBride, but Andy Dowie was first to the ball to head away to safety.
As the half hour mark came and went, both sides continued to struggle for fluency with the game descending into a grim midfield battle.
McIntyre, who is currently serving a touchline ban, could be heard loudly voicing his frustrations just in front of the press area-slap bang in the middle of the Raith support.
Those frustrations were also being felt on the pitch, with Dunfermline’s Gary Mason next to find his way into the referee’s notebook for a rash challenge on Iain Davidson in the 45th minute.
Seconds after the restart, Walker took a deep free-kick out on the Raith left.
Dunfermline looked to clear the danger, but Walker followed up and hit an 18-yard shot just wide of Smith’s right-hand post.
The stalemate was finally broken in the 51st minute.
McBride hit an inswinging corner from the right with Campbell reacting fastest to fire a half volley into the back of Smith’s net from six yards out-Rovers’ first league goal since November 13 against the same opponents.
That lead lasted just three minutes when Willis swung a cross in from the Pars’ right wing.
The ball flew all the way through to Nick Phinn lurking just inside the Raith penalty area and the midfielder hit a cracking drive into the top-right corner of McGurn’s net.
Rovers stormed back upfield and forced a corner on the left, which Smith came off his line to claim.MistakeHowever, the ball went right through his hands, although the onrushing Tade could not capitalise on the mistake.
Raith had another opportunity in the 69th minute when Walker nodded a deep cross into the path of Baird as he burst into the Pars’ penalty area, but the striker could not direct his shot on target.
However, just a minute later, Baird made amends when he played a defence-splitting pass into the feet of Tade who raced between Dowie and Alex Keddie and lashed the ball home from 20 yards.
Baird was having a lively match, but he overstepped the mark in the 79th minute when he lunged into a tackle on Phinn and was booked for the challenge.
Just after, Smith came out to punch away a ball on the edge of his area as Tade looked to pounce.
However, the keeper only succeeded in playing it to Walker whose lobbed effort from 20 yards sailed just over the Pars’ crossbar.
As the match edged towards its conclusion, Dunfermline threw everyone forward in a desperate bid for an equaliser.
They looked like achieving their aim in the 90th minute when substitute Kirk stabbed a close-range effort towards goal, but McGurn saved smartly at his post to ensure all three points remained in Kirkcaldy.
Attendance 6534.
Raith Rovers McGurn, Murray, Dyer, Campbell, Ellis, Davidson, Williamson (Simmons 68), Walker, Baird (Weir 88), Tade, McBride (Ferry 83). Subs not used Wilson, McNeil.
Dunfermline Athletic Smith, Woods, McCann, Mason, Dowie, Keddie, Willis (Cardle 74), Phinn, Clarke (Kirk 67), McDougall, Graham. Subs not used McGregor, Thomson, Allison.
Referee Charlie Richmond.