Greg Shields was grateful to see Kris Boyd hit a late equaliser for Kilmarnock
after a bizarre own goal had threatened to give Dunfermline a helping hand in
the race for a UEFA Cup place.
The former Pars man looked set to clear after Killie goalkeeper Colin Meldrum
had parried a Sean Kilgannon strike in the 59th minute.
But Shields failed to control the ball with his first touch two yards from his
goal-line and, with his second, sliced the ball into the roof of his own net.
However, the 26-year-old was saved the ignominy of costing his side all three
points when substitute Boyd rose highest to head home nine minutes from time.
After a scrappy opening spell to the game, both sides began to create
opportunities in front of goal.
Barry Nicholson was first to try his luck but his shot from the edge of the
box was blocked by Chris Innes.
At the other end, Alan Mahood's pass sent Gary McSwegan clear but his shot
from an acute angle was well off target.
Meldrum then had to get down quickly to gather a powerful shot from Kilgannon
as the visitors began to trouble the home defence.
But soon the action was back at the other end and Andy McLaren forced a good
save from Derek Stillie with a header.
The closest effort of a disappointing first half came when Craig Brewster's
header went inches wide of the post.
McLaren looked the main threat for the home side and his volley from just
inside the box forced another good parry from Stillie.
A Steve Crawford shot in the 49th minute was struck well enough but crashed
into the side-netting.
Garry Hay came close to opening the scoring in the 51st minute but Stillie
came off his line quickly to deny the Killie man a shot at goal.
Then came the breakthrough for the visitors, courtesy of red-faced Shields.
Meldrum produced another great save from Kilgannon's shot following a strong
Crawford run.
But, after failing to control the ball in front of goal, Shields lashed the
ball into the net as he attempted to clear.
Things got worse for Kilmarnock midway through the second-half when French
defender Freddie Dindeleux was stretchered off following a clash of heads with
Gary Dempsey, with Boyd coming on in his place.
The Pars packed their defence to protect their slender lead but were caught
out in the 81st minute when Boyd rose at the back post to bullet Steve Fulton's
corner into the net.
Peter Canero thought he had netted the winner four minutes from the end but a
linesman's flag denied the Ayrshire side collecting all three points.
Teams
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Innes, Shields, Dindeleux (Boyd 64),
Canero, Fulton, Mahood, Fowler, Hay (Murray 75), McSwegan,
McLaren.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Locke, McDonald.
Goals: Boyd 81.
Dunfermline: Stillie, MacPherson, Scott Wilson, Walker,
Grondin (McGroarty 57), Bullen (Dempsey 60), Nicholson,
Brannan, Kilgannon, Brewster (Hunt 73), Crawford.
Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, Dair.
Booked: Bullen, Hunt.
Goals: Shields 59 og.
Att: 4,021
Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).
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