Dunfermline Athletic 2-5 Queen of the South

Queen of the South striker Stephen Dobbie scored a hat-trick in 16 second half-minutes

Stephen Dobbie struck a 16-minute hat-trick as Queen of the South moved third in the Championship with a comprehensive win over Dunfermline.

Dobbie also had a hand in Chris Kane's first-half double, which saw Queens established a two-goal half-time lead.

Dunfermline struck back through Nicky Clark just after the break,

Declan McManus also scored a consolation goal for the home side, five minutes before Dobbie completed his treble.

Both sides had hit the buffers in recent weeks, with neither recording a win in their previous three matches. It was the visitors who came out the traps quickly, though, on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Dobbie played a pivotal part throughout the game. It was his through ball that sent Andy Stirling Stirling clear and allowed him to in turn flick it into the path of Kane. The on-loan St Johnstone striker utilised his great pace to burst clear of the home defence and fire the ball home.

Dunfermline striker Nicky Clark pulled a goal back for his side just after the interval, but it was not enough to halt Queens

Number two for Queens came just before the break. Dobbie teased Pars defender Ryan Williamson before cutting the ball back for Kane, who turned to knock home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The home side left the field at half-time to a derisory jeers from the crowd, but they were on their feet within three minutes of the restart. Top-scorer Clark was first to pounce on a cross into the box and fired a half volley into the roof of the net.

With 15 minutes left, though, the Doonhamers restored their two-goal advantage thanks to a terrible mistake by the home side. Dean Shiels made a mess of a free kick deep inside his own half and after goalkeeper Sean Murdoch made a hash of his attempt to clear, Dobbie pounced to knock the ball into the empty net from just outside the box.

And Dobbie made it four for the day for Gary Naismith's side after Lyndon Dykes was felled inside the box, with the former Hibernian striker making no mistake from the spot.

McManus nodded home for Dunfermline with five minutes left, but it was to be man-of-the-match Dobbie, who had the final say on a magnificent afternoon for Queens. Collecting the ball on the right, Dobbie played in Dykes before continuing his run to the back post, where he had the simple task of firing home.