Airdrieonians 1 PARS 1

ATHLETIC were denied a second Championship win of the season after Airdrieonians fought back for a draw this afternoon.

Chris Kane's first half penalty, awarded for a foul on Aaron Comrie by home goalkeeper, Murray Johnson, gave the Pars a first half lead.

However, Mason Hancock's close range header midway through the second period salvaged a point for Rhys McCabe's Diamonds, who remain bottom of the table.

Dunfermline are one place above them, on goal difference, after a match that was delayed 10 minutes at its start due to a supporter in the away end requiring medical assistance. 

Boss James McPake said his players were "devastated" not to be going home with maximum points, commenting: "That's a bonus for me because, ultimately, we came down here to get three points.

"It's not the result we wanted. The plus for me is we had to defend a lot of direct balls, a lot of balls into our box.

"Obviously, ultimately, the equaliser comes from a ball into our box. It's not really one of the ones I'm talking about, like the set plays.

"Airdrie were very direct, asked us a lot of questions on that, and I've been the one that's been critical of the players in terms of how they've handled set plays. Today, I thought we were much better at that.

"Look, it's a point. I must reiterate, it's not the result we wanted coming here, but it's something to build on, I suppose."

There were three changes to the Dunfermline side which started their home defeat to Queen's Park last time out, after which McPake said that he felt he got his team selection wrong.

Lewis McCann, who was absent from the match day squad with what the manager said was a "slight calf issue", and Sam Young and David Wotherspoon, who were amongst the substitutes, dropped out, with Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Joe Chalmers and Craig Wighton coming in.

There was a place on the bench for new signing, Dapo Mebude, as the visitors sought to end a two-game losing streak against the only side below them in the Championship table, on goal difference, at the start of play.

There was a 10 minute delay to kick off after a fan in the Dunfermline end needed medical assistance, and was taken away on a stretcher, with everyone's thoughts with them for a speedy recovery.

When the action did get going, Matty Todd curled the visitors' first effort wide from the edge of the box, before Aaron Reid sent a header towards the Pars goal moments later, which was an easy gather for Deniz Mehmet.

Todd was next to threaten, with a deflected shot wide after a driving run to the edge of Airdrie's box, before Kane nodded Joe Chalmers' subsequent corner over.

Then, in the 27th minute, Dunfermline were given the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

Wighton played Aaron Comrie through on the right-side of the box with a lovely pass and, as he met it, was deemed to have been felled by goalkeeper Johnson.

That allowed Kane to step up and confidently slot home, netting his first goal of the campaign.

Almost immediately, the Diamonds responded with a good drive from Adam Frizzell, which Mehmet did well to push away, but they were indebted to Johnson as he then denied Kane, and the Pars, a second.

There were appeals from the home fans for a penalty, after Reid went down under a Chris Hamilton challenge, but the assistant referee had already signalled for an offside, whilst, at the other end, Tommy Fogarty headed over from another Chalmers set piece.

Gavin Gallagher, twice, fired at goal from range for Airdrie, but both his strikes were wide of target, as the Pars led at the break.

Todd, again from outside the area, tried his luck in the early stages of the second period, but sent the ball over, before Sam Graham had a good opportunity for the hosts from a corner, but he could only head over.

Wighton saw a half-volley, which was well excecuted, comfortably held by Johnson, before Dunfermline conceded a 67th minute equaliser.

A ball into the box was headed across goal by Frizzell and, as it looked like the Pars would deal with it, Hancock stole in, unmarked, at the far post to stoop and head in from close range.

That goal soon saw McPake go to his bench, sending on Mebude, for his debut, and Josh Cooper, in place of Wighton and Todd.

Cooper, who scored his first for Dunfermline last weekend, almost had his second, sending a deft header towards goal from a Ritchie-Hosler cross, which Johnson gathered as Kane tried to touch home on the slide.

The Pars scorer's race was run, however, as he was soon replaced by Wotherspoon, before Watson headed over the away side's bar from a corner.

Both managers continued to look to their bench in an attempt to snatch all three points and, as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Frizzell, in plenty of space, tried his luck from 25 yards, sending the ball narrowly over the Pars bar.

Wotherspoon fired a free-kick at goal in stoppage time, which was saved, and Watson sent another header over, but neither team could find a leveller as the spoils were shared.

Airdrieonians: Johnson, MacDonald, Hancock, Reid (Wilson 49), Frizzell, Watson, McGrattan (McGregor 55), Gallagher (Armstrong 78), Aiken, Graham, Badley-Morgan.

Subs not used: Bruce, Cooper, Mochrie, Armstrong, Wright.

Goal: Hancock (67).

Booked: Watson (40), MacDonald (50), Gallagher (66), Aiken (79).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Hamilton, Fogarty, Otoo, Ritchie-Hosler, Chalmers, Clay (Sutherland 84), Todd (Cooper 72), Wighton (Mebude 72), Kane (Wotherspoon 76).

Subs not used: Fisher, O'Halloran, Briggs.

Goal: Kane (28, pen).

Booked: Fogarty (61), Clay (64), Ritchie-Hosler (69), Mackay (assistant manager 69).

Referee: Peter Stuart.