Aberdeen's revival under caretaker manager Paul Hegarty continued with three points against the relegation-haunted Pars.

The home side have won only twice in 20 league matches and the result left them three points adrift at the foot of the table.

There was little for a 7,800 crowd to shout about in a first half played in a strong wind and sleet, although Eoin Jess was only just off target with an angled attempt after 35 minutes.

But the weather improved and so did the match with George Shaw missing a glorious opportunity to put the home team ahead.

A Stewart Petrie pass found Shaw with 'keeper Derek Stillie out of position but his header was wide of the post.

His wastefulness was punished in the 52nd minute when Aberdeen took the lead through John Inglis, who crashed the ball home from close range after Derek Whyte missed Robbie Winters' cross.

Shaw atoned for his earlier miss with a 20-yard shot which took a deflection off a defender and soared over Stillie's head for the equaliser.

Winters had a chance to restore Aberdeen's lead in the 71st minute but his blockbuster was brilliantly saved away by keeper Lee Butler.

He could not hold the ball which began to spin towards the net but fortunately for Butler it bounced off the near upright for a corner.

The Dons grew in confidence and four minutes later snatched the points with a breathtaking goal by Jess, who drew Butler and hit the ball into an empty net after a left-wing run by Winters.

Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, McCulloch, Ireland, French, Huxford, Smith, Britton, Petrie, Shaw, Squires. Subs: Westwater, Edinho, Ferguson, Graham, Martin.

Aberdeen: Stillie, Perry, Whyte, Pepper, Inglis, Jess, Kiriakov, Dow, Buchan, Rowson, Winters. Subs: Newell, Hart, Gillies, Esson, Good.