 On 23 January 2010, Cardle scored a hat-trick in Dunfermline's 4–1 win at Partick Thistle, after coming on as a substitute.He scored eight goals in 31 games over all competitions in the 2009–10 campaign.In 2010–11, he helped Jim McIntyre's "Pars" to promotion into the Scottish Premier League as First Division champions.