AT last a win for Dunfermline and a deserved one, too.

Two and a half months had passed since Jim McIntyre's side last tasted victory but they were well worthy of all three points here. The result, combined with Hibernian's defeat to St Johnstone, lifted them to within a point of the Edinburgh club and they can move off the bottom of the table with a win away to Motherwell on Tuesday night. Not bad for a team many thought were already doomed to be relegated this season.

In fact, Dunfermline could and should have won this more comfortably, passing up a raft of chances in the first half in particular. Their cause was also aided by the absence of the defensive clangers that have plagued them in recent times, their new-found no-nonsense approach earning them a first clean sheet since early November. Adding to McIntyre's good mood was the sight of Mark Kerr, signed on a short-term deal earlier in the week, dictating play from the centre of the park in an accomplished debut.

"Mark was excellent," McIntyre said. "Not only does he have the legs to get up and down the pitch but he's also got composure and picks the right pass more often than not. I thought he had a fabulous debut considering he hadn't kicked a ball for six weeks."

For Kilmarnock, this was hardly ideal preparation for next weekend's League Cup semi-final meeting with old rivals Ayr United. They looked vulnerable every time Dunfermline went on the attack, the first two goals stemming from individual errors that had manager Kenny Shiels throwing his arms up in frustration.

"It wasn't a good day for us," said Shiels, who was reluctant to blame either the pitch or the weather for the loss. "Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and get yourself working again. I was very disappointed with my players today. But it's about Dunfermline – they deserve all the credit."

The visitors, in truth, created enough chances to win two games. Liam Buchanan could have had a first-half hat-trick, twice sprinting clear of the Kilmarnock defence but failing to get a shot away on both occasions. Later in the half he capitalised on Manuel Pascali's mishit clearance but found Cammy Bell equal to his volley. When Joe Cardle also flashed a shot over you began to suspect that, once again, this wasn't going to be Dunfermline's day, but the goal their play deserved finally arrived after 42 minutes. Buchanan took advantage of an error by Mo Sissoko to cross for Andy Barrowman and he slotted a shot firmly past Bell.

The goal at least belatedly awoke Kilmarnock from their slumber and they came close to securing an equaliser before the break, Iain Turner saving well from Dean Shiels and then tipping a Garry Hay effort over the crossbar. That could have been the cue for a second-half onslaught from the home side but instead it was Dunfermline who continued to press. Barrowman should have done better than shoot tamely wide from a good position soon after the restart but a second goal was not long in arriving.

The Kilmarnock defence was again culpable as Buchanan robbed Zdenek Kroca before feeding Joe Cardle, who lashed a shot beyond Bell. That elusive win was now almost within reach, and Barrowman nearly scored a third only for James Fowler to clear off the line, while Bell denied Cardle with an impressive parry. Buchanan finally got the goal his endeavour deserved late in the game, latching on to Andy Kirk's pass to wrap up a comprehensive victory.

"It's been a long time coming – a winning performance and a clean sheet – but the players were exceptional in difficult circumstances," added a delighted McIntyre.