Dunfermline kept alive their slim hopes of catching third-placed Hearts in the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a late Gary Dempsey equaliser against 10-man Hibernian tonight.

A tremendous chipped shot from Derek Riordan after only five minutes at East End Park had given the Edinburgh men a well deserved 1-0 half-time lead.

Their narrow advantage looked secure until Kevin Thomson foolishly got himself sent off in the 58th minute after receiving a second yellow card.

The home side seized the initiative thereafter and eventually got their equaliser 12 minutes from time when Dempsey slammed the ball in from close range.

The Pars now move eight points behind the Tynecastle side with a game in hand whilst Hibs have to hope Motherwell lose their last two games before the split to have any chance of taking a top-six spot.

The tone of the first half was set right at the beginning when Riordan stunned the Dunfermline support when he delicately netted his 15th goal of the season from 20 yards out.

Hibs midfielder Scott Brown took possession on the right hand side of the Pars penalty area and laid it back to the young Hibs player at the edge of the box.

There still seemed no imminent danger to the Fifers' goal but the 19-year-old quickly looked up and floated a delightful shot over the stranded Pars keeper Derek Stillie.

The rattled home side battled back and pressed the Easter Road men towards their own goalmouth. But Bobby Williamson's side remained dangerous on the break with Riordan and Brown having efforts which, thankfully for the Pars, were less than accurate.

As the first half continued apace it was the home side who looked the more edgy especially in defence whilst Hibs were playing with some confidence going forward.

Easter Road midfielders Alan Reid and Brown were lively in the middle of the park but it was Thomson who nearly made it 2-0 in the 26th minute with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area which went inches wide.

Dunfermline were offering little in return save for a poor Lee Bullen header which went well over and a Dempsey volley from 20 yards which went straight to Daniel Andersson in the Hibs goal.

The onus was on the home side to try and get control of the game after the interval and when Pars striker Stevie Crawford was pulled back by Colin Murdock after only a minute of the restart, the Hibs defender was booked and the home side were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box.

However, Dempsey's unconvincing left-footed strike went high over the bar with Andersson watching on unconcerned.

The tempo of the game had increased and the tackles began to fly in all over the pitch. Hibs midfielder Kevin Thomson and Pars wide man Derek Young were both booked for their petty off-the-ball clash on 50 minutes.

However, Hibs were dealt a blow when Thomson looked to have said something to assistant referee Willie Dishington and after referee Craig Thomson consulted his fellow official, the young Hibs player went for an early bath.

Williamson would have been raging at the lack of discipline in his midfielder as almost immediately the pendulum swung towards the home side who visibly grew in confidence.

Pars midfielder Darren Young's snap-shot from the edge of the box in the 65th minute which went wide only served to confirm the Fifers were now firmly on top.

Moments later, Dunfermline veteran Craig Brewster's drive from 20 yards had Andersson flailing to beat the ball away.

The visitors were hanging on by the skin of their teeth as Dunfermline peppered their penalty area with cross after cross.

It seemed only a matter of time until the Fifers got their equaliser and it duly arrived in the 78th minute.

Following yet another goalmouth skirmish, Dempsey latched onto the loose ball and slammed the ball past Andersson from 10 yards out.

Teams

Dunfermline: Stillie, Shields, Scott Wilson (Labonte 74), Skerla, Bullen, Dempsey, Nicholson, Darren Young (Mehmet 79), Derek Young, Crawford, Brewster (Tod 90).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Mason.

Booked: Dempsey, Derek Young.

Goals: Dempsey 78.

Hibernian: Andersson, Caldwell, Murdock, Doumbe, Edge, Scott Brown, Nicol, Thomson, Reid, Riordan (O'Connor 80), McManus (Whittaker 85).

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Zambernardi, Orman.

Sent Off: Thomson (57).

Booked: Murdock, Thomson, Caldwell.

Goals: Riordan 5.

Att: 5,041

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).