Dunfermline were staring relegation in the face after failing to take any of their chances in a goalless Bank of Scotland Premier League match against second-bottom St Mirren.

Despite creating several openings at East End Park and having much of the possession, the Pars could not cut their nine-point gap to the Paisley side.

St Mirren goalkeeper Chris Smith did brilliantly to deny Jim Hamilton and Stevie Crawford in the same move in the second half and Stephen Glass also went agonisingly close with a free-kick.

With a larger than normal home crowd urging them on, bottom side Dunfermline were eager to impress and veteran striker Hamilton released Jim O'Brien inside the box but his cross was over-hit.

Gus MacPherson's St Mirren side then forced two corners, which came to nothing, after Rangers-bound Kirk Broadfoot had a free-kick from 20 yards blocked by the Dunfermline wall.

Dunfermline looked to on-loan Liverpool winger Adam Hammill to create an opening and, while the youngster was causing the home rearguard problems with his trickery, St Mirren stood firm.

The Fife club stamped their authority on the match as the minutes ticked away in the first half.

Hamilton was afforded time on the edge of the box to size up a shot in the 33rd minute but his effort for the far corner just cleared the bar.

The best chance of the first half then fell to Stevie Crawford in the 36th minute as he connected with a cross from Greg Ross, but his header bounced just past the post from six yards.

Referee Richmond then booked Hamilton and St Mirren defender David van Zanten as the two squared up moments after the former had fallen in the box under a challenge.

Minutes after the restart a deep Glass free-kick tempted goalkeeper Smith from his line and he was unable to collect the ball which bounced about dangerously in his box. Defender Broadfoot finally managed to clear the danger.

Dunfermline upped the tempo in the second period in a bid to find the all-important goal.

Hammill was next to try his luck on goal in the 56th minute when the ball broke to him from a corner kick, but he dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box.

With Stewart Kean operating as a lone striker, St Mirren were finding it difficult to push up the pitch.

That encouraged the Pars to attack and, in the 61st minute, they somehow failed to score despite creating three chances.

O'Brien's cross fell to Hamilton unmarked in the box and his cushioned volleyed was parried by Smith.

Crawford collected the rebound but Smith again came to St Mirren's rescue before Hammill's effort sailed high and wide.

St Mirren still posed a threat and Pars goalkeeper Dorus De Vries pulled off a great save from Kirk Broadfoot's header in the 67th minute.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Pars were given a chance to test Smith after Broadfoot was adjudged to have handled the ball 25 yards from goal.

A left-footed strike from Glass deflected off the bottom of the wall but Smith scrambled across his goal to tip the ball past the post and earn his side a vital point.

Teams

Dunfermline De Vries, Ross (Owen Morrison 76), Wilson,McGuire, Glass, O'Brien, Mason, Simmons, Hammill,Hamilton (McIntyre 66), Crawford (Burchill 66).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Bamba, McCunnie, Muirhead.

Booked: Wilson, Hammill, Hamilton, McGuire, Mason.

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Potter, Broadfoot, Reid,Brittain, Murray, Lawson (Molloy 88), Kean (Sutton 90),O'Donnell (Corcoran 60).

Subs Not Used: Brady, Millen, Malone, McKenna.

Booked: van Zanten, Broadfoot, Brittain, Potter.

Att: 7,149

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).