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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 2: Mochrie hits late winner for league leaders

Dundee United extended their lead at the top of the Championship to seven points with a late win over Dunfermline.

Chris Mochrie's strike five minutes from time snatched victory for the league leaders in a fiercely contested Friday night fixture.

Jim Goodwin's side remain unbeaten after the tricky trip to Fife with nine wins and four draws in their 13 league outings this season.

But at East End Park it was anything but simple for United with club youth graduates playing a key role in the victory.

The visitors grabbed the lead eight minutes from time in the first half when ex-Raith Rovers loanee Kai Fotheringham nodded home.

Liam Grimshaw's powerful drive was too hot to handle for Deniz Mehmet who spilled for Fotheringham to pounce on the rebound and silence the home support after being jeered throughout the match.

With seconds to go to the break, United ought to have doubled their lead. Mehmet slipped taking a goal kick and sent the ball straight to Louis Moult but the striker took a loose first touch allowing Mehmet to bravely smother the ball. The keeper was then withdrawn as a concussion sub at half time after the collision.

Three minutes into the second half and Dunfermline had major appeals for a penalty waved away as Lewis McCann appeared to be pushed by Declan Gallagher but referee Chris Graham was unmoved.

The hosts didn't have to wait long for a leveller though as Owen Moffat restored parity with 53 minutes on the clock.

The former Celtic winger raced forward and capatalised on a slip from Gallagher to slot coolly into the bottom corner. Bizarrely, just seconds after his celebrations Moffat was then withdrawn by manager James McPake.

Proceedings then became more stretched with Alex Jakubiak going close for Dunfermline and Moult denied by sub keeper Harry Sharp. Glenn Middleton passed up a glorious chance seven minutes from time as his effort zipped past the post.

However, United would go on to claim victory late in the day. Matthew Cudjoe cleverly dinked into Mochrie who dropped a shoulder before blasting past Sharp who couldn't get enough on the shot to stop the winner.

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