A second-half equaliser by Stevie Crawford, his 11th strike of the season, earned Dunfermline a share of the spoils in a keenly-fought encounter against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

A Gary McSwegan penalty after 29 minutes gave the home side a narrow half-time lead but it was wiped out after the hour mark when the Scotland striker popped up to score a poacher's goal with a close-range header.

The point for the Pars was well deserved but leaves the Fifers still searching for their first win at Rugby Park since Boxing Day, 1992.

Dunfermline had looked sharper in the early stages of the game and Crawford's speculative shot from 20 yards in just the fourth minute, after Killie wide-man Rhian Dodds had carelessly given away possession, posted warning that the Pars were intent on all three points.

Killie striker Colin Nish, freed by the Pars in the summer, was keen to do well against his old side, and his knock-down to Gary McSwegan moments later allowed the former Hearts man an accurate if weak shot from outside the box which gave Fifers keeper Derek Stillie no problems.

In the 19th minute, Pars veteran Craig Brewster found strike partner Crawford with a perfectly-weighted pass but the Scotland international's angled volley from eight yards was pushed round the post for a corner by Dubourdeau.

Pars midfielder Barry Nicholson's 25-yard volley from Aaron Labonte's corner was net-bound until Killie defender Greg Shields popped up to head the ball off the line.

The game came alive in the 29th minute when Killie were awarded a penalty after Pars stopper Andrius Skerla handled in the box.

A well-struck McSwegan cross-field pass found Nish and, as the big striker skilfully went past Skerla, the Lithuanian defender left an arm dangling to knock the ball away.

Referee Willie Young had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and McSwegan confidently stepped up to send Stillie the wrong way.

The home side were on top and, in the 34th minute, only a saving tackle 10 yards from goal from Dunfermline midfielder Gary Mason prevented Gary McDonald doubling the their lead after the Killie striker had been played in by Nish.

Neither manager made a change at the break and after the restart it was Dunfermline who looked the most eager to score.

The Fifers forced a couple of early corners but the Ayrshire defence held firm, repelling the superior aerial power of the visitors.

But Dunfermline kept pushing and, in the 55th minute, captain Scott Thomson curled a free-kick from 20 yards past the Kilmarnock wall only to see Dubourdeau throw himself to his left to gather at the second attempt.

Three minutes later, Dubourdeau again foiled the Pars midfielder on the goal line, diving spectacularly to his right to hold Thomson's powerful header from only 10 yards out.

At the other end, Killie defender Gordon Greer's 20-yard shot forced a great save from Stillie, Nish followed up and blasted the ball at the keeper from close range and, as the ball spun into the air, McDonald came in to somehow head over the bar from only six yards out.

But in the 62nd minute the visitors got their equaliser.

Gary Mason's mis-hit shot from just outside the box came up off the ground and Crawford, looking suspiciously offside, headed past the flailing Dubourdeau.

Killie rushed up the park and would have regained their lead if McDonald, played in cleverly by McSwegan, had not blasted his shot from inside the box high over the bar with only Stillie to beat.

The game swung from end to end in the closing stages with both sides going all out for the winner.

In the 79th minute, Killie substitute Danny Invincibile, on minutes earlier for Dodds, brought another good save from Stillie with his powerful shot from 16 yards out.

Teams

Kilmarnock Dubourdeau, Shields, Greer, Dindeleux, Fowler, Fulton, Locke, McDonald, Dodds (Invincibile 78), Nish (Boyd 70), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McLaughlin, Hay.

Booked: Dindeleux.

Goals: McSwegan 29 pen.

Dunfermline Stillie, Skerla, Scott Wilson, Tod, Labonte, Nicholson, Mason, Darren Young (Derek Young 78), Scott Thomson, Brewster, Crawford (Dempsey 87).

Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, Hunt, Byrne.

Goals: Crawford 63.

Att: 5,715

Ref: W Young (Scotland).