Andy Geggan put the boot into Stenhousemuir for the second time at Ochilview as Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies praised his men for bouncing back after losing to Rangers.
He hit the last gasp winner in the Pars’ 5-4 win earlier in the season when they stormed back from 3-0 down.
And Geggan did it again on Thursday to keep second placed Pars’ promotion bid very much on track.
Relieved Jefferies also had a special mention for 21-year-old French Moroccan striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who hit the opening goal.
“I was worried about the game because it came two days after we played Rangers, when they put a lot of effort in,” he said.
“We also had some key players missing and I was delighted for Faissal because he had never played 11-a-side football before he came here.
“In France he played six-a-side indoors. He came to Dunfermline two years ago and we thought he had something.
“It was going to take him time to settle coming from St Tropez to Dunfermline.
“He has repaid the faith we showed in him. He certainly has got a lot of talent and he has given us something to think about.
“As for Stenhousemuir, they must be sick of the sight of us. That’s the third time on the trot we have done them in the last minute.
“We keep going and nothing fazes us. It’s a great thing to have.”
Dunfermline started well as Ryan Wallace let fly with a well-struck left foot shot from the right-hand side of the box. Stenny keeper Chris Smith was up to the challenge by pushing the ball around the post.
However, El Bakhtaoui split the Warriors rearguard wide open, sidefooting into the net after he pounced on a perfect Wallace pass.
It was a moment to cherish for the frontman, enjoying his first start and his first goal since arriving in Scotland a year ago.
It was almost 2-0 when Stephen Husband fired towards goal, only to be denied by a fine stop from Smith.
There was almost an own goal as Young’s header came off the Pars crossbar.
Higgins was only inches away with his effort from a Nicky Devlin delivery as Stenny went in search of the leveller.
They almost got it but Scully did magnificently to stop a net-bound shot from Bryan Hodge.
Stenny might have been down but they were far from out of it and substitute John Gemmell blasted wide of the target with only the keeper to beat.
Their tenacity paid of in the 84th minute when Sean Lynch bundled his header past Scully, to the dismay of the Pars support.
However, Dunfermline regrouped, with Geggan heading home a Ross Drummond corner.