Hibs loanee Fraser Murray lit up the Fife derby with a stunning double to guide Dunfermline to victory over Raith Rovers at a dreich East End Park.
The midfielder curled in a spectacular free kick from all of 25 yards to give the Pars a 3-1 lead before adding a fourth when his powerful effort deflected high into the net to seal an impressive win for the Championship promotion chasers.
Murray has made a huge impression since arriving in the Kingdom on loan last year, adding his second and third goals of the campaign against the Stark’s Park outfit to fire Stevie Crawford’s side nine points behind Hearts at the second tier’s summit.
The 21-year-old gave the Easter Road faithful a glimpse of what to expect when he returns from his temporary move over the Queensferry Crossing 24 minutes from time.
Declan McManus and Aaron Comrie had put the hosts two up in grim, sleety conditions before Brad Spencer put Rovers - managed by ex-Hearts boss John McGlynn - back into the contest on 64 minutes
Almost directly from kick off, Stevie Crawford’s side charged up the other end of the pitch and when Scott Banks was felled within shooting distance, Murray stepped up to bend a wicked dipping effort over the Raith wall and in off the underside of the crossbar.
The East Mains academy product has found it difficult to hold down a starting position at the Championship side, but did his chances no harm with his second of the evening six minutes from time.
Cutting in from the left, the midfielder teased Reghan Tumilty before unleashing a drive towards goal that was diverted beyond the sprawling Jamie MacDonald in goal by the unlucky Iain Davidson.
It capped a superb performance from the Easter Road prospect, but it was an awful return to Fife for fellow Hibs loanee Jamie Gullan, making his third debut for Raith after agreeing a deadline day loan move until the end of the season.
