Aberdeen more convincingly than the scoreline suggests but manager Steve Paterson will be concerned with the number of clear cut chances his side passed up.
Particularly in the latter stages of the match with the visitors down to ten men after veteran midfielder Ged Brannan had been sent off for two bookable offences.
After a drab opening nine minutes the match sprung into life when some awful defending from the Pars saw the ball end up at the feet of Paul Sheerin, 25 yards from goal the midfielder had only one thought in his mind as he strode forward before hitting a brilliant right-foot shot that dipped over the head of Derek Stillie and into the back of the net.
Dumfermline almost levelled the match when a Barry Nicholson cross was headed over his own crossbar by Phil McGuire, whose intervention was needed as Brannan was in close attendance.
The Dons opened up the Pars defence once more when Derek Young's head flick sent Steve Tosh in on goal, but his right-foot shot from the edge of the area lacked conviction and was comfortably held by Stillie.
Some good work down the left by Steve Crawford saw the Scotland striker pick out Chris McGroarty, who had found space inside the box.
However his left-foot effort was brilliantly saved low to his right by Peter Kjaer.
Again, after a slow start it was Sheerin who provided a bit of spark when he gathered the ball 25 yards out before trying an outrageous chip that had Stillie beaten, but it also flew just over the bar.
On the hour minutes Dunfermline were dealt a major blow when Brannan was sent off for a second bookable offence following a dreadful two-footed lunge on Michael Hart.
Aberdeen should have put the game beyond doubt in the 88th minute when Stephen Payne released Kevin McNaughton down the right, he unselfishly picked out Derek Young in acres of space, the striker took at touch, but with only the keeper the beat he somehow dragged his shot wide of the target.