Dunfermline took another step towards safety in the Bank of Scotland Premier
League as they maintained their excellent recent home record with a point
against Hearts at East End Park.
Davie Hay's men took a deserved first-half lead when Scott Wilson headed home
on 32 and they looked to be on their way to another win on the much-maligned
plastic pitch.
But, on the last game to be played on this particular artificial surface - a
new plastic pitch is set to be in place for the game against Hibernian in a
fortnight's time - Hearts grabbed a point.
Wilson turned from hero to villain when he was adjudged to have brought down
Lee Miller and Paul Hartley converted confidently from the spot on 62.
The point was of less value to John Robertson's Scottish Cup semi-finalists,
who face an uphill struggle to catch city rivals Hibernian in the race for a
UEFA Cup berth.
It was the visitors who were first on the attack and in the fourth minute
Deividas Cesnauskis broke clear down the right and his inviting cross just
eluded the on-rushing Dennis Wyness - who was in the Hearts side for the banned
Saul Mikoliunas after his controversial actions late in the midweek game against
Rangers.
Dunfermline came into the game after that scare though, with Simon Donnelly
and Georgi Hristov linking impressively up front - hinting at a busy afternoon
for a Hearts defence minus captain Steven Pressley, whose food poisoning again
kept him out.
On the quarter-hour mark the lively Donnelly almost robbed Hearts centre-half
Andy Webster - who was dithering on the ball - and only a last-ditch challenge
from the Scotland man prevented the former Celtic striker from racing towards
goal unopposed.
Hristov did exactly the same to Hearts' other central defender Christophe
Berra moments later and it was clear the home side were determined to give their
higher-placed opponents a tough time.
On 20, Hristov wriggled clear just inside the box and fired in a low drive
which Craig Gordon scrambled clear with his legs.
Just before the half hour, Dunfermline were furious when referee Charlie
Richmond turned away their vociferous penalty appeals.
After the Pars had built intelligently down the left, Campbell - filling in
for foot-injury victim Scott Thomson - burst into the box and chipped the ball
into Berra but the official suggested it had hit the defender's chest rather
than his arm.
On 32 minutes the home side got the goal their play deserved when Wilson rose
highest to head home left-back Campbell's corner, although Gordon could perhaps
have done better than flap the ball into his net.
Back came Hearts and highly-rated striker Miller featured in the game for the
first time when he unleashed a thunderous 30-yard shot which Derek Stillie was
pleased just to tip over.
A bizarre situation occurred three minutes before the break when Cesnauskis
was scythed down by Hristov, Richmond gave a foul but then booked the Lithuanian
for the rolls he performed after being brought down.
Dunfermline were handed a blow at the break however when Hristov had to be
replaced by Derek Young while MacFarlane came on for Hearts right-back Robbie
Neilson.
Striker Young almost scored with his first touch when he agonisingly just
failed to get a touch on a fizzing cross from the left.
The home side went close to scoring on two occasions soon after too, Darren
Young having a powerful volley saved by Gordon and Andy Tod heading just over
from the resulting corner.
Miller should have grabbed the equaliser on 56 minutes after a slip by Wilson
but he lashed a right-footed shot wide of Stillie's right-hand post.
Just after the hour mark Hearts were given the perfect chance to level matters
when Wilson was adjudged to have wrestled Miller, the man at the centre of the
penalty furore against Rangers, to the ground.
After Wilson was booked for his protests stand-in Hearts captain Paul Hartley
made no mistake from the spot, tucking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner
on 62 minutes.
Robertson made his second change on 66 minutes when Joe Hamill, whom he had
recalled to the starting line-up, was replaced by one-time Scotland striker Mark
Burchill.
Hearts were now doing most of the pressing and after a good run from
Cesnauskis, Jamie McAllister unleashed a superb drive which Stillie did well to
block.
Seven minutes from time McAllister had another good effort which was turned
wide on the goalline by Campbell.
Barry Nicholson made his return from injury five minutes from time when he
came onto replace former Livingston midfielder Lee Makel.
The final chance of a game of relatively few opportunities looked to have come
in injury time when Burchill's close-range header was beaten out by Stillie.
But then right at the death Dunfermline had the ball in the net when Tod
headed home but it was ruled out for offside as the game finished as a draw.
Teams:
Dunfermline Stillie, Ross, Scott Wilson, Tod, Campbell, Mason,
Makel (Nicholson 84), Darren Young, Donnelly,
Hristov (Derek Young 45), Christiansen.
Subs Not Used: Langfield, McKeown, Craig Wilson, Scullion.
Booked: Scott Wilson.
Goals: Scott Wilson 32.
Hearts Gordon, Neilson (MacFarlane 45), Webster, Berra,
Wallace, Hamill (Burchill 72), Hartley, Cesnauskis, Miller,
Wyness, McAllister.
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Kizys, McKenna, Simmons, Weir.
Booked: Cesnauskis.
Goals: Hartley 62 pen.
Att: 5,934
Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).
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