Dunfermline were denied a deserved victory after a hugely controversial last minute penalty decision at Tynecastle.

The Fifers thought they had won the game thanks to a second half strike from Barry Nicholson.

It would have been thoroughly deserved after they dominated much of the game with only Hearts keeper Antti Niemi standing in the way of an emphatic win.

But, in the last minute, Hearts striker Ricardo Fuller appeared to stumble over Justin Skinner in the box.

Referee Bobby Orr saw nothing wrong with it but a linesman flagged and awarded the spot-kick much to the fury of the Dunfermline players.

Youngster Stephen Simmons stepped up and coolly slotted home the penalty.

Dunfermline were the better side for the opening period and they could have taken the lead as early as the seventh minute.

Steven Pressley's clearance was intercepted by Stewart Petrie and his cross was only just missed by Lee Bullen at the far post.

Fuller produced Pars keeper Marco Ruitenbeek's first save of the day in the 15th minute when the Dutchman pushed his low shot around the post.

But it was Neimi who was the busier keeper and he pushed away a low drive by Stevie Crawford in the 30th minute.

And the Finn followed that up by brilliantly pushing away a Scott Thomson drive.

Niemi again came to Hearts' rescue four minutes before the interval when he superbly tipped Crawford's rasping drive past the post.

The second half saw the visitors again take control and Thomson tested Niemi in the 53rd minute with a 30-yard free-kick which was comfortably held by the keeper.

The Fifers were unlucky not to take the lead a minute later when Nicholson's shot was booted off the line by Pressley.

However, at the other end, a flashing drive by Alan Maybury flew wide after Fuller's header had fallen at his feet at the edge of the box.

Hearts came back into things as the half went on and Simmons was unlucky when his low shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide.

But the home side could have no complaints when Dunfermline finally claimed their reward and took the lead in the 73rd minute.

Nicholson played a cool one-two with Bullen before having all the time in the world to compose himself and easily blast past the stranded Niemi.

Hearts head coach Craig Levein introduced two subs after the goal in a bid to change things but his side had produced very little in front of goal and even the home fans had appeared to accept the inevitable defeat.

However, the linesman was to have a say in matters and his late intervention meant that Hearts could claim an unlikely point.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Maybury, Pressley, McKenna, Mahe (Flogel 59), Simmons, Gronlund (Weir 75), Webster, Fulton (Boyack 75), Fuller, Wales.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Davidson.

Booked: McKenna.

Goals: Simmons 90 pen.

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Skinner, Bullen, Nicholson, Ferguson, Mason, Hampshire (Doesburg 69), Petrie, Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Harrower, Dair, McGroarty, Nish.

Booked: Petrie, Mason, Bullen, Ferguson.

Goals: Nicholson 73.

Att: 11,176

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).