DUNFERMLINE Athletic could only manage a point at home against Peterhead this afternoon as the game ended 0-0 despite a host of chances.

The Pars spurned numerous opportunities to take the lead and despite a frantic finish, they couldn't make the breakthrough they needed to grab that all-important goal.

Both sides started the match looking to press forward and attack, making for a lively opening spell. El Bakhtaoui had the first chance of the game in the 5th minute after collecting a lovely pass slipped through by McCabe but although he got the shot away, it was well saved by Smith. Cardle tried his luck from distance two minutes later but his effort was straight at the keeper and easily held.

The Pars had another opportunity through Antoine-Curier's headed effort but there were no takers when the ball deflected off the keeper in front of goal.

Peterhead had their first clear-cut chance in the 11th minute when McIntosh's low drive rebounded off the post but the ball broke to the Pars, with El Bakhtaoui racing into the visitor's penalty box. Referee Gavin Ross quickly drew the ire of the home support after waving away penalty claims, but Peterhead defender Noble appeared incensed at the ease with which El Bakhtaoui went down.

After a frantic opening quarter of an hour the game began to settle down, though both sides were still looking to press forward in attack. A free kick from Strachan was sent wide, giving Murdoch no trouble in goal, while the Pars continued to try their luck at the other end without managing to carve out any real chances.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, McCabe drove forward and unleashed a shot over the bar before Murdoch was called into action at the other end to hold a low shot from McAllister. In the 29th minute, the Pars went close again through Cardle's ball across the face of goal but El Bakhatoui couldn't get on the end of it. Two minutes later, Cardle ventured forward again but his shot only hit the side netting.

A clash between Cardle and McIntosh saw both men booked in the 35th minute before Cardle got on the end of a lovely passing move from the home side in the 38th minute. However his shot was blocked and rolled through for Smith to gather easily.

Both teams were finding it difficult to sustain a flow, with the match stopping and starting after niggling fouls and referee Ross was often the target of jeers from the home support. The Pars continued to push forward in the closing stages of the first half, with Paton sending a fierce shot just wide, but the teams went into the break on level terms.

Peterhead made a change early in the second half, with the booked Ferry making way for Brown in the 49th minute, and the substitute went down shortly after coming on to the pitch after a challenge from Richards-Everton, earning the Pars man a yellow card.

Brown made an immediate impact for the visitors early on in the second half - first latching onto the end of a McIntosh ball in the 54th minute after Richards-Everton failed to see the Peterhead man out of play, but his shot somehow ended up over the bar. A minute later, he had another attempt well saved by Murdoch, who managed to stop the strike with his legs and send the ball out for only the second corner of the game.

The Pars were still pushing forward looking for that opening goal but Peterhead found themselves with plenty of space on the break. Martin was booked for a tug back just after the hour mark before Peterhead fans cheered what they thought was their team taking the lead in the 62nd minute, but the ball had only rippled the side netting.

Wallace replaced Paton in the 67th minute and almost set up Antoine-Curier with his ball across the face of goal, but the striker sent his shot high over the bar. A few minutes later, Cardle sent a ball in to El Bakhtaoui, who couldn't get his shot away, before Wallace made a run forward and fired just wide of the left-hand post.

Antoine-Curier showed his frustration by thumping the turf after putting another shot wide in the 76th minute, the big striker failing to take advantage of any of his chances in the match.

Peterhead made another change in the 78th minute, with Sutherland coming on for McIntosh.

El Bakhtaoui showed some skill in the 80th minute to connect well with a volley on the left-hand side of the box, but his strike flashed wide across goal and went out past the right post.

Moffat was brought on for Antoine-Curier with five minutes to go, with the home support jeering the striker from the pitch after what they felt was a lacklustre performance, while Byrne also came on in place of McCabe.

Brown was booked in the 85th minute when he brought down Cardle and Wallace's resulting free kick went agonisingly close but pushed past the post by Smith.

Peterhead made their final substitution in the 88th minute when Rogers came on to replace McAllister but somehow the game ended up in a stalemate.

Pars: Murdoch, Martin, Talbot, McAusland, Richards-Everton, Geggan, Paton, McCabe, Antoine-Curier, El Bakhtaoui, Cardle

Subs: Hutton, Rooney, Falkingham, Hopkirk, Wallace, Byrne, Moffat

Peterhead: Smith, Suker, Noble, Ross, Strachan, Ferry, Ferries, Redman, McAllister, Dzierzawski, McIntosh

Subs: Jarvie, Adams, Sutherland, Brown, Rogers

Referee: Gavin Ross

Attendance: 2,915