Kilmarnock had most of the pressure and Boyd fired in the winner before the break following a needlessly conceded free-kick.

The home side's injury crisis had failed to mat and winger Allan Johnston had came through a late fitness test, with Simon Ford fit enough for a place on the bench.

A Derek Stillie block from point-blank range had prevented Boyd giving Kilmarnock the lead as a Dunfermline defence including fit-again Andrius Skerla was under early pressure.

But the goalkeeper was helpless as Steven Naismith latched on to Andy Tod's headed clearance and bulleted the ball home from just inside the area.

Dunfermline were back on level terms eight minutes later.

A Lee Makel corner found Tod in the box and he provided the flick for Jesper Christiansen to nod past goalkeeper Alan Combe from close range.

A Leven free-kick was deflected wide and Danny Invincible drove straight at the Dunfermline goalkeeper as Killie sought to restore the lead.

They did that after a mistake by Pars captain Scott Thomson.

A needless pass-back to Stillie led to an indirect free-kick. Hay touched the ball to Kris Boyd who fired low through a ruck of players.

In the second half a Chrisiansen's cross into the Killie box was met by Billy Mehmet, but the striker's effort lacked both pace and power and was easily held by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.

Naismith managed to steal the ball from the clutches of Stillie, leaving the goalkeeper scrabbling desperately on the deck and it was left to Skerla to hook a Johnston shot off the line.

Peter Leven then looked to seal the game by surging into the box, then going down in the box under pressure from Barry Nicholson, earning himself a booking instead of a penalty. Peter had played on through Nicholson's original challenge, which would have been a clear spot-kick.

Stillie then tipped a thunderous Leven effort just over the crossbar.

And Kilmarnock held on for all three points despite some late Pars pressure.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Hay, Lilley, Fontaine, (Ford 45 mins), Invincibile, McDonald, Johnston (Murray 77 mins), Leven, Boyd, Naismith

Subs: Smith, Dargo, Dodds, McGregor Johnstone

Attendance: 4,701