Dunfermline grabbed a late equaliser to snatched an unlikely point just when
it seemed that Motherwell were on course for an away victory.
Skipper Andy Smith struck with 11 minutes to go when he headed home a corner
from substitute Marc Miller.
A lacklustre first half could not have been in greater contrast to the second,
which exploded into life with only two minutes gone.
Andy Tod's defensive error proved expensive when his header went straight to
John Spencer who turned neatly to shoot to the near corner of the net.
There was more drama a minute later when Tod was sent off.
He picked up a
second booking for a foul on Lee McCulloch just outside the penalty box.
There then followed a series of bookings when Motherwell were awarded a
free-kick just outside the penalty box, Stewart Petrie and Ged Brannan finding
their way into the referee's notebook.
Reduced to 10 men, Dunfermline looked a beaten side until Brazilian Edinho was
brought on to replace David Graham.
His appearance gave Dunfermline a new lease of life and after Smith's goal in
the 79th minute threw everything at the Motherwell goal looking for the winner.
Motherwell were hanging on desperately and with two minutes of normal time
remaining Michael Doesburg was sent off for a second yellow card, this time for
a foul on Edinho.
In the fourth minute of injury time Brannan could have won the game for
Motherwell with a blockbuster of a shot from 16 yards. Dunfermline keeper Lee
Butler had to be at his most agile to turn Brannan's blockbuster of a shot away
for a corner.
In the end a point apiece was perhaps a fair reward to a match where events
off the pitch had perhaps affected proceedings.
Before kick-off, the new Norrie McCathie stand - named after Dunfermline's former
skipper - was officially opened by his mother Helen.
McCathie died in a gassing accident with a girlfriend in his new home three
years ago, while Motherwell were still in mourning following the death of
striker Andy Thomson last week.
Teams
Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, McCulloch, Tod, French, Huxford,
Smith, Petrie, Johnson (Millar 28), Graham (Edinho 63),
Ferguson (Templeman 83).
Subs Not Used: Westwater, Martin.
Sent Off: Tod (48).
Booked: Huxford, Petrie.
Goals: Smith 79.
Motherwell: Kaven, May, McMillan, Brannan, Valakari,
Coyle (Nevin 42), Christie, McCulloch, Doesburg, Teale, Spencer.
Subs Not Used: McClair, Matthaei, Ramsey, Bannister.
Sent Off: Doesburg (88).
Booked: Brannan.
Goals: Spencer 47.
Att: 5,182
Ref: A Freeland (Aberdeen).
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