A Stuart Elliott double helped Motherwell to victory over Dunfermline in front of a paltry crowd of just over two and a half thousand at East End Park.

The young Irish winger scored twice in the first half and, although Stevie Crawford pulled a goal back before the break with a penalty, the visitors held on for a comfortable win.

To make matters worse for Dunfermline defender Michael Doesburg was dismissed near the end for a foul on Elliott.

The home side looked more positive from the kick-off, pinning Motherwell back, but it was the Fir Park men who went into a shock seventh-minute lead with their first attack.

Elliott raced into the box and when Dunfermline defender Andrius Skerla stumbled, it allowed the winger a clear sight of goal and he drove an angled shot from 10 yards low into the corner of the net.

The home side's troubles were compounded in the 17th minute when the visitors doubled their lead with a simple goal.

From a Kevin Twaddle corner on the right, Elliott rose virtually unchallenged in the six-yard box to bullet a header high into the net.

Dunfermline seemed powerless to stop the Lanarkshire men as they grew in confidence and moments later Elliott nearly grabbed his third, his cross from the left dipping just over the bar.

At the other end a Barry Nicholson shot from 20 yards was off target although Crawford tried hard to deflect the ball towards goal with his head.

But Motherwell raced down the other end of the pitch and Dunfermline keeper Marco Ruitenbeek pulled off a good save from a curling Twaddle shot from just inside the box.

The home side gradually came into the game and on the half-hour mark Crawford's eight-yard header beat Stephen Woods but the ball struck the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

In the 34th minute Dunfermline were handed a life-line when they were awarded a penalty after George Fotheringham was fouled in the box by Motherwell midfield Said Chiba.

It was Crawford who stepped up confidently to send Woods the wrong way.

The home side were on top now and three minutes from the break defender Chris McGroarty had a powerful shot from the edge of the box which went just wide of the target.

Dunfermline came out after the break determined to make amends for their poor start to the game but found their opponents equally focused.

There was little between the sides, both adopting a positive approach without creating too much in terms of clear cut chances.

However in the 52nd minute Crawford should have done better from a Fotheringham cross but he missed with a header from 12 yards allowing the Motherwell defence to clear the danger.

As the second half wore on Dunfermline took control with the visitors relying on the dangerous Elliott on the occasional counter-attack.

The home side should have equalised in 61st minute when they had two good chances in quick succession.

Fotheringham's shot from 16 yards was well saved by Woods and when the ball fell to Nicholson, the midfielder's goal-bound shot was deflected for a corner by Motherwell defender Derek Townsley.

Motherwell substitute Martin Wood was unlucky in the 80th minute when his lob from just outside the box went inches wide.

To make matters worse Dunfermline defender Doesburg was dismissed two minutes from the end for his desperate foul on Elliott as the Motherwell striker raced clean through on goal.