Three red cards and five goals in the proverbial game of two halves. But there was only one statistic that mattered to Dundee United amid the tumultuous scenes of celebration which greeted the final whistle - the three points banked as they claimed their first league win since April. The home side wore green jerseys instead of orange, and the unfamiliar strips reflected the performance they produced.

Could this, one wondered, be the same side which had gone almost a year without a league win at home. But it wouldn't be United without a flurry of frailty. After storming to a two-goal lead, they made their fans suffer with a second half of dismissals and doubt as Dunfermline levelled it. Emotionally charged on and off the pitch, the rollercoaster ride only ended on a high for the home side courtesy of a late penalty. Five minutes from time, David Moss punched the ball away from the head of Jason De Vos. The Dunfermline player was sent off for a second bookable offence, a spot kick was awarded, and Charlie Miller blasted it home. It sealed a victory which was deserved, but so nearly not achieved. "I was feeling quite nervous about the penalty, but we had to go on and win this game. Otherwise it would have been a massive blow," observed Miller. He was right, because the psychology of football would have meant this draw would have hurt far more than so many of the defeats United have endured over the last season or so.

Even Jimmy Calderwood, the Dunfermline manager, con-ceded his team were not in the game in the first half, as United passed them off the pitch. Calderwood and Miller found themselves in agreement about disciplinary matters too, for yellow cards were dispensed like confetti. Craig Easton was the most obvious victim, a goal celebration bringing one, an enthusiastic if late tackle bringing another. Calderwood sympathised. "They haven't scored a lot of goals, so you could understand his feelings," said the rival manager. Calderwood had gambled on the fitness of Ian Ferguson, but it was a decision that backfired. His captain, returning after injury, could only manage four minutes before limping off. That immediately forced the visitors into a reshuffle which saw Moss drop back into midfield, with Lee Bullen introduced to attack. It was as this reorganisation was accomplished that United seized the initiative. Key to their superiority was the trio of Miller, Easton and Jamie Fullarton, who swarmed in a tight triangle through the central areas. Not that United lacked width, for out on the flanks patrolled Stephen McConalogue and Sean O'Connor. O'Connor's brief involvement in this game proved hugely influential. The young man, signed from Hednesford Town a year ago, had disappeared out of the first-team picture over the intervening months. How the former Conference player relished the chance to canter down the left flank. And canter he did, with big lolloping, if somewhat ungainly, strides.

And there is coolness too, given the way he gave United the lead on six minutes. A throw-in was turned goalward by a header from Beto Naveda, and a half clearance put the ball at O'Connor's feet. From 12 yards, he drove it low past Marco Ruitenbeek. The unfortunate goalscorer was out of action barely 15 minutes later, when he was carried off following an innocuous-looking tackle. On came Neil Heaney and on went United, for the change in personnel did not alter their game plan. Hence it was Heaney who made United's second goal in the dying seconds of the half, clever wing work bringing him into the box, from where he picked out the head of Easton, who could barely miss from his position in front of goal. Dunfermline's limited contribution to the first half was to compound their own misery. Youssef Rossi, already booked for dissent, kicked Naveda's ankles once too often and the Moroccan was dismissed in the 45th minute. Yet it is amazing how many times 10 men find the inspiration that 11 lacked.

That is what Dunfermline did, emerging from the break a far more purposeful outfit. The signs of a comeback were already there, before the second red card of an increasingly bad-tempered contest restored the numerical balance. A late tackle by Easton brought his dismissal, and in a matter of four frenetic minutes Dunfermline were level. A Barry Nicholson cross, headed back across goal by Moss, allowed Bullen to blast home Dunfermline's first. Then Nicholson delivered another ball from the other flank and Moss outjumped his marker to direct an impressive header into the goal.

Moss the hero had little time to savour his goal, for he was soon to be cast in a different role. It meant a happy ending for United - and one that has been a long time coming. Mind the Gap You'll know it by their noise:

Dundee Utd: Combe, Buchan, De Vos, Lauchlan, O'Connor (Heaney 22), Easton, Miller (McQuillan 87), Fullarton, Aljofree, Naveda, McConalogue (Hannah 67). Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Thompson