By Sean Saranczuk
March 4 2003

Dundee United clawed their way back into the race for Premier League survival with a comfortable 3-0 win over Dunfermline at Tannadice.
Craig Easton and Andy Tod scored either side of the break to dent the Pars' hopes of achieving European football next season.

Second-half substitute Daniel Ogunmade secured the three points, which moved the Tangerines level on points with Motherwell at the foot of the SPL table, in the closing moments.

There had been few chances in the opening half-hour, although United did have the ball in the net after 23 minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Jim McIntyre cleverly flicked on a long ball from Stuart Duff to find Derek Lilley unmarked inside the area. The former Leeds man hammered the ball past Derek Stillie, but he mis-timed his run and was thwarted by the raised flag.

However, United did take the lead with six minutes of the half remaining after some determined play from Jim Paterson.

The wing-back broke free of Gus MacPherson and fired in a perfectly weighted ball for the head of Easton, who had taken up position eight yards out.

The United midfielder leapt above his marker and nodded the ball to the far left corner, giving Stillie no chance of making a save.

Then, two minutes after the break, Derek Lilley broke down the left and fired a low cross through the six-yard box.

The pace of the ball caught the Dunfermline defence flat-footed and it zipped to the back post for Tod, who bundled it into the net.

United then added a third with just a minute remaining when second-half substitutes Allan Smart and Ogunmade combined.

Smart crossed from the right wing and Ogunmade coolly controlled the ball with his right foot before firing beyond Stillie with his left from 10 yard out.