Dunfermline's hopes of finishing third in the Bank of Scotland Premier League suffered a blow as Dundee United earned a well-deserved point at East End Park.

Greg Shields put the home side ahead in first-half injury-time with his first goal in his second spell with the Pars to give Jimmy Calderwood's weakened team a lead they barely deserved.

But United defender David McCracken poked home the equaliser in the 64th minute to leave the Pars' hopes of catching Hearts in third looking bleak after their third game in five days.

Calderwood must now energise his side for the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final replay with Inverness Caley Thistle on Tuesday night.

After a scrappy opening to the match, Billy Dodds provided the first piece of composure when he nutmegged Darren Young in the middle of the park.

The youngster brought down the veteran United striker and, from Mark Wilson's well-flighted free-kick, McCracken headed just over.

That seemed to wake up the Pars and debutant Craig Wilson found himself in acres of space on the right of the penalty box and unleashed a fine drive which Paul Gallacher did well to parry.

But United's pressure should have been rewarded in the 27th minute when, from Barry Robson's left wing cross, Dodds mis-kicked his volley from the 18-yard box.

Robson again did well down the left a minute later and it took a superb headed clearance from Aaron Labonte to deny the on-rushing Dodds and Jason Scotland.

Andy McLaren then tested Marco Ruitenbeek, in his final appearance for the Fife club, with a stinging shot which the popular keeper could only tip over for a corner.

But, after dominating the first 45 minutes, the Tannadice outfit were hit with a sucker-punch 30 seconds into injury time.

Shields found Gary Mason with a fine ball down the line and, when the visitors failed to clear the midfielder's right-wing cross, the former Charlton man lashed the ball past Gallacher.

Calderwood replaced Wilson at the break with Gary Greenhill, in a bid to close down the space afforded to McInnes and Easton in the first half.

But the visitors were still able to create openings and even defender McCracken found himself moving forward to send in an inviting cross, which his team-mates were slow to get on the end of.

United boss Ian McCall made a couple of changes on 52 in a bid to conjure up an equaliser, Collin Samuel replacing McLaren and McInnes surprisingly withdrawn in favour of Graeme Holmes.

Samuel immediately combined neatly up front with his fellow Trinidadian, Scotland, the latter forcing Ruitenbeek to tip the ball round the post for a corner.

McCall played his final card in the 59th minute, bringing on Stuart Duff for Alan Archibald at left-back.

Those changes deservedly worked in the 64th minute when, from a Robson corner Chris Innes headed the ball back across goal and McCracken stabbed the ball home - although the ball may have touched Pars centre-half Labonte on its way to the net.

With former Scotland striker Dodds pulling the strings after being withdrawn into midfield by McCall, United pressed for the winner.

Samuel blasted a powerful effort straight at Ruitenbeek on 75, while Scotland brought Ruitenbeek into action two minutes later with a fine save following Robson's exciting run through the heart of the home midfield.

But United ran out of ideas in the last 10 minutes to allow Dunfermline to go into their cup clash at Pittodrie against Inverness in good heart.

Teams

Dunfermline Ruitenbeek, Shields, Tod, Labonte, Grondin, Craig Wilson (Greenhill 45), Darren Young, Mason, Kilgannon (Dempsey 81), Mehmet, Clark (McGuire 90).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Nicholson.

Goals: Shields 45.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald (Duff 59), Easton, McInnes (Holmes 52), Dodds, Robson, Scotland, McLaren (Samuel 52).

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Conway.

Booked: Robson.

Goals: McCracken 64.

Att: 4,409

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).