Thistle ease Pars aside

Thistle got off to best possible start

Partick Thistle 4-0 Dunfermline

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Partick outplayed Dunfermline at Firhill to record a comfortable victory which lifts them above Aberdeen in the SPL table.

Gerry Britton handed the home side the lead in the fifth minute.

Alex Burns grabbed a double and Scott McLean completed a convincing win that continued Thistle's good home form.

Britton gave Thistle a dream start when he got on the end of Martin Hardie's cross from the left after five minutes to head past Derek Stillie.

And he almost grabbed his second goal of the game three minutes later.

Scott Paterson unleashed a shot from 30 yards which smacked off the post and fell at the feet of Britton.

But Stillie was able to block his rebound effort.

Pars gradually came more into the game and they had a chance to draw level after 19 minutes.

Thistle outplayed Pars from start to finish

Gary Mason played a perfect pass into the path of Craig Brewster but he fired just over the crossbar.

At the other end Hardie's 27th minute effort was easily held by Stillie and seconds later Britton hit the woodwork again.

Alex Burns cut the ball back to the former Dunfermline man on the edge of the area but his shot cracked off the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Barry Nicholson squandered a good opportunity to equalise for Dunfermline when Sean Kilgannon found him in space in the box.

But the midfielder smashed the ball into the side net.

Brewster again and Jason Dair both came close for the visitors before Burns doubled Thistle's advantage on the stroke of half time.

Paterson slipped the ball through to Burns to send him clear and he slotted the ball past Stillie.

Thistle extended their lead at the start of the second period with Burns pouncing to grab his second after Dunfermline gifted possession.

Then substitute Scott McLean completed a comprehensive victory for the Firhill side when he volleyed past Stillie with 20 minutes remaining.

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Partick: Arthur, Lilley, Archibald, Craigan, Paterson, Chiarini, Milne, Mitchell, Britton (Waddell 89), Hardie, Burns (McLean 61).

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Morris, McKinstry.

Dunfermline: Stillie, Dair (Hampshire 64), Walker (McGroarty 56), Skerla, Bullen, Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Mason (Dempsey 75), Crawford, Brewster, Kilgannon.

Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, McGarty.

Booked: Mason.

Attendance: 4,110

Referee: W Young