JOCKY Scott would have been a riot as a sergeant major. Anyone who has

heard the Dunfermline manager's half-time dressing room dissertations

from Forfar to Clydebank -- these two grounds, incidentally, have

dressing rooms with little or no sound-proofing -- would confirm that.

Dunfermline's players certainly have been on the receiving end of an

earful in recent weeks, but for once, after Saturday's 2-0 defeat of

promotion rivals Kilmarnock in a hard, tough game at East End Park, yer

man was pleased. He even smiled.

His outlook was evident with his opening remarks. ''I'm very pleased

with the result. That is the best performance in terms of working hard

for each other that the players have had this season.''

As a declaration of war on the other promotion candidates --

Dunfermline visit leaders Raith Rovers next week -- it may not have been

the most erudite statement, but there was no mistaking the intent.

The game was not pretty and not for the faint hearted. Kilmarnock

player-manager Tommy Burns' policy of continuing to build through the

midfield again was put under severe pressure -- and on two fronts at

that. Dunfermline were ordered to close them down quickly, and this they

did. The front players, with the few chances they created, again were

not capable of putting the ball into the net.

Despite having Bobby Williamson sent off for a high tackle on Chris

Sinclair in the second half Burns preferred to lay the blame on Killie's

lack of height both in defence and attack. ''We've been missing Paul

Flexney and Craig Paterson for some time now, and Dunfermline exploited

our lack of height.''

Andy Williamson notched Dunfermline's first goal in 17 minutes with a

low shot from a Billy Davies corner, and Hamish French drove home the

second from 12 yards in the seventy-third minute when Roddy Grant nodded

down a Neale Cooper free kick.

Raith certainly had to fight for a point at Ayr. The 1-1 draw meant

that the Kirkcaldy side are still unbeaten in the league this season

and, in fact, have now gone 23 league games without defeat.

Manager Jimmy Nicholl said: ''They made it tough for us. They

obviously had done their homework. However, Craig Brewster, as he has

done before, scored a smashing goal.''

The surprise team recently must be Dumbarton. Their

2-1 defeat of Morton at Cappielow -- putting quite a dent in the

Greenock side's promotion hopes -- means that they have won four of

their last five games.

John McQuade and Martin Mooney scored just before half-time, and

despite Morton pressure Doug Johnstone's goal just after the break was

not enough.

St Mirren found the going tough at Clydebank, and John Henry's strike

four minutes before the interval was no more than the Bankies deserved.

However, Barry Lavety saved the jerseys when he replaced Danny McGill

just after the break. An equaliser with 16 minutes to go, and then the

winner two minutes from time narrowed the gap at the top to two points.

Hamilton Accies did not do their cause any harm either with a 3-0

victory at Cowdenbeath, Paul McDonald and Kenny Ward scoring before the

break and Trevor Smith getting the third.

Stirling Albion made up for some recent bad results when they defeated

struggling Meadowbank Thistle 4-1 at Ochilview, and even missed a

penalty in the process. It was Stirling's first win in 13 matches.