Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 Airdrieonians 

THE Pars remain unbeaten, and secure in second place, though failed to take the win in an early top-of-the-table clash with Airdrieonians.

The first half saw Dunfermline take a few opportunities, though they couldn’t find the back of the net, with some close saves from the away side’s keeper, Murray Johnson.

James McPake’s team, who were knocked off the top spot by the Diamonds, put their goals against record to the test for the meeting.

Both teams had previously won three and drawn one of their opening four games, with the latter at the summit on goal difference.

McPake, who was looking forward to being back on home turf, told the Press last week that he had been anticipating a tough match, though believed it was a good opportunity for the Pars, who are so far unbeaten, to gain a positive result.

Three changes were made to the team which drew a blank in a historic derby with Kelty Hearts last week, seeing Joseph Chalmers, Lewis McCann, and Wighton, who is out on injury, all dropped in favour of Kyle MacDonald, Nikolay Todorov, and Christopher Mochrie.

This proved a success, with MacDonald and Mochrie making early shots at goals, alongside Kevin O’Hara.

With the first half ending 0-0, both teams were desperate to make a mark on the match, which looked like it could end without a win for either side.

Despite a slower start to the final 45 minutes, the pace quickly picked up following attempts at a goal from Airdrie’s Calum Gallagher, who came on as a sub to replace Lewis Jamieson, and Dunfermline’s MacDonald.

There was confusion over the first goal of the match, which at first looked to come from a Nikolay Todorov header, following a Josh Edwards throw from the right, but was later seen as an own goal from Callum Fordyce.

Either way, the Pars took the lead at 67 minutes, spurring others into action, with further efforts from Todorov, Mochrie, and Todd in the minutes which followed.

Just 10 minutes later, however, the Pars conceded their first goal of the season, breaking an impressive run, when Adam Frizzell put the ball past Deniz Mehmet.

Dunfermline looked for a winner, with Rhys Breen and Todorov making close shots at the net, seeing Todorov trying to emulate his first goal with another header from an Edwards throw, but was stopped by Johnson.

In the final minutes of the match it looked like the home side had done it, with Breen getting the ball into the net, though cheers turned into disappointment when the referee disallowed the goal.

The match ended Dunfermline 1-1 Airdrieonians with the state of play unchanged, and both sides holding their spots at the top of the table.