SOME of Athletic's fringe players were given the chance to impress ahead of Friday's blockbuster Fife derby as the Pars faced Rose for the first time in a competitive match.

Bonnyrigg stunned Dunfermline by taking the lead but the visitors then rattled in four goals in the first half to effectively seal their passage to the next round, courtesy of a John Tod double, a Chris Kane penalty and a neat finish from Olly Thomas.

Players who haven't featured as much as they'd like will hope to have caught Neil Lennon's eye ahead of the huge clash with Raith at Stark's Park.

The chance to watch their team play at another new ground also attracted a sizeable travelling support to New Dundas Park - including one fan returning from Bergen just for the match.

John Tod hit a double in Dunfermline's 4-2 win over Bonnyrigg in the KDM Evolution Trophy. (Image: Craig Brown)

The former SPFL club sat 13th in the Lowland League, winless in five since beating Motherwell U21s in this competition in September, while the Pars arrived unbeaten in their last 10 matches and third in the Championship.

The KDM Evolution Trophy gives fringe and younger players a run-out and Dunfermline made full use of it, naming an entirely different 11 from the one that started against Inverness Caley Thistle.

The hosts sat deep from the start, leaving the Pars plenty of space to dominate possession with some sweet passing moves.

Yet it was Bonnyrigg's first foray forward that brought the opening goal. Scott Robinson's shot was not cleanly defended and Jordan Smith squeezed the ball in at the near post.

The home fans' delight was short-lived and Dunfermline went more direct, with crosses from Kian Corbally and Thomas causing problems.

Charlie Gilmour had an effort blocked, then forced a fine save from keeper Jack Lyon from 25 yards a minute later.

Olly Thomas hit his first goal for the Pars since returning on a permanent deal in the summer. (Image: Craig Brown)

Tod headed a corner off target but the Pars levelled in the 20th minute.

Lee Currie's challenge on Oli Shaw conceded a free kick on the right and Corbally's delivery was forced home at the far post by Tod.

The Pars went ahead when referee Greg Soutar judged Devine to have fouled Tod and awarded a penalty.

Kane sent the spot kick low into the bottom left corner.

The one-way traffic continued. Morrison set up Kane, whose shot was saved and Zak Rudden's effort was also kept out.

In the 33rd minute Thomas extended the lead. The 21-year-old robbed Reece Gaylor to go one on one with Lyon. His first attempt was saved, but he coolly slotted in the rebound.

A Kane effort was turned behind and Morrison's low shot was saved, but a fourth was just moments away.

Tod, whose surging runs are fast becoming a trademark, played the ball off Kane and finished from the left side of the box.

Just before the break, Bonnyrigg won a free kick but Smith sent it well over Musa Dibaga's crossbar.

The only save the 26-year-old Gambian goalkeeper had to make all half was to stop a deflected Ross Gray shot from going out for a corner.

After such a positive first half, the second was a shade disappointing and it began poorly.

Mackenzie Scott pulled a goal back for Rose in the 51st minute after latching onto a Robinson pass.

Bonnyrigg won their first corner of the contest in the 56th minute. It came to nothing but sparked the Pars into life.

Tod missed out on a hat-trick after he met a Corbally corner but couldn't convert.

Rory Macleod, on for Shaw, set up Gilmour, whose blast from distance was bravely blocked.

Lyon tipped a lofty Kearney cross over the bar, and Kyle Benedictus was called into action to head clear a Rose set-piece.

There were no more goals as Rudden blasted two shots wildly off target, sub Lucas Fyfe found only the side netting and Keith Bray had an effort blocked.

Tod kept trying for that treble but another firm header was well defended.

It was a comfortable win, although the margin could have been greater, but it gave members of the squad a useful run-out and Dunfermline go through to tomorrow's (Thursday) last 16 draw.

DUNFERMLINE: Dibaga: J Tod, Benedictus, Kearney, Gilmour, Corbally, Morrison (Cameron 89), Rudden (Hardie 89), Kane (Fyfe 59), Thomas (Bray 70), Shaw (Macleod 59)

Subs not used: Billy Terrell (GK).