Ayr United 2 PARS 2

ALEX JAKUBIAK struck his first goals for Dunfermline but it wasn't enough to secure victory after Ayr United pegged them back to draw this afternoon.

The former Dundee forward opened his account for the club inside three minutes, before swiftly doubling it, to put James McPake's men in command at Somerset Park.

However, after Aiden McGeady pulled one back before the break, Frankie Musonda levelled for the Honest Men in the second half to give them a share of the spoils.

In his 14th game for the Pars since signing in September, Jakubiak gave the visitors a dream start when, from Michael O'Halloran's cross, he sent a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net from the centre of the penalty area.

Jakubiak was one of five changes to the team that drew at Arbroath last Saturday - with Sam Fisher, Joe Chalmers, Ben Summers and Craig Wighton also coming in, with Chris Hamilton, Lewis McCann, Ewan Otoo and Matty Todd missing completely, and Owen Moffat dropping to the bench - and he made the most of his starting opportunity by quickly netting for a second time.

With just nine minutes gone, he scored again when Summers played the ball into his path on the left side of the penalty box, allowing him to brush off his marker before drilling into the bottom right corner of the net.

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Josh Edwards and Summers had further efforts as Athletic pressed for a third, whilst home keeper, Robbie Mutch, denied Wighton, and Jakubiak sent a shot wide of the post.

However, four minutes from the break, former Celtic and Everton veteran McGeady pulled a goal back for Ayr when he coverted a cross from Anton Dowds.

O'Halloran had a shot parried away early in the second half before a ball in the Pars net was chalked off for a foul by Francis Amartey, but in the 63rd minute, the hosts did find a leveller when Musonda looped a header beyond Deniz Mehmet.

Captain Kyle Benedictus made his first appearance since late October from the bench, replacing Rhys Breen, who had picked up a knock, whilst 17-year-old Jake Sutherland made his debut in place of O'Halloran.

With six minutes to go, Mehmet produced a superb stop to deny Ben Dempsey, and Moffat shot wide, as both teams sought a winner.

Sutherland, after a Moffat shot was blocked, had a sight of goal in stoppage time for the Pars at the edge of the box, but his effort finished wide of target, as both teams settled for a share of the points.

The Pars remain fourth in the Championship table, two points clear of Airdrieonians, who jumped to fifth after a 2-1 win at Queen's Park, ahead of Tuesday's Fife derby at home to Raith Rovers.

Ayr United: Mutch, Ahui, Musonda, Stanger, Reading, Dempsey, Young, Chalmers, McGeady (Murphy 62), Amartey, Dows.

Subs not used: Senga, Rose, McKenzie, Bryden, Smith, Syla, McAllister, Albinson.

Goals: McGeady (41), Musonda (63).

Booked: Ahui (90).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Fisher, Breen (Benedictus 69), O'Halloran (J. Sutherland 78), Allan, Chalmers, Summers (Moffat 65), Edwards, Wighton, Jakubiak.

Subs not used: Hoggan, Fenton, Sharp, Little.

Goals: Jakubiak (3, 9).

Booked: Wighton (61), Edwards (86).

Referee: Ross Hardie.

Attendance: 2,022.