PARS 1
St Mirren 1

THE PARS were once again left to rue missed chances this season as they were held by relegation favourites St Mirren at East End Park.

Allan Johnston named the same starting eleven for the third game on the bounce as he looked for his men to stretch their unbeaten league run to eight.

It was the Buddies who were first to threaten in under a minute as Stephen Mallan fired a free-kick wide of Sean Murdoch’s right-hand post from 30 yards out.

It was a hotly contested opener as the icy surface played host to several crunching challenges early doors with Lee Ashcroft, John Herron and Jason Talbot all picking up slight knocks.

Nicky Clark and Michael Moffat linked-up well with the former playing through Moffat who was denied by the onrushing Jamie Langfield on 8 minutes.

The pair then forced a half-chance on the half-volley on the half hour mark. Clark’s drive was well over, however. A chance that would spur the game into life.

Only a goal-line clearance would prevent the Pars taking the lead one minute later.

Moffat drove a raking ball wide right to Paul McMullan who cut inside his man and was unlucky to see his goalbound effort cleared with the keeper beaten.

Willie Collum, who had proved to be a controversial figure all afternoon, then dismissed claims for a Pars penalty when Moffat appeared to have been hauled down with only Langfield to beat.

However, he had no difficulty pointing to the spot when Moffat was sent sprawling again on 36 minutes.

Despite two missed penalties against Ayr previously, and John Herron staking his claim, Kallum Higginbotham stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to fire Johnston’s men ahead.

Murdoch was then called into action on 40 minutes as Rory Loy forced the stopper to tip his effort wide. A free header from the resulting corner then crashed off the post and off a Pars defender as Jack Ross’ side looked for a leveller before the interval to no avail.

The second started the same as the first with Mallan sending a drive towards goal, his low effort was spilled by Murdoch and cleared for a corner. It would prove costly.

Gary MacKenzie was given a free header which he powered into the back of the net on 47 minutes with some fans still making their way to their seats.

A superb piece of play from Higginbotham sent Clark clear down the right on 52 minutes. His perfect pass across the face of goal gave Moffat a free target to aim for with Langfield stranded. The majority of the home support were celebrating before they realised the striker had skewed his shot wide as he slid in at the back post, with the ball taking a horrible bounce before he got his foot on the cross.

Jack Ross then had the outstretched right-hand of Langfield to thank as he denied Clark’s placed header finding the back of the net on 60 minutes.

St Mirren were growing in confidence and MacKenzie once again fired a header towards goal but would be denied comfortably by Murdoch with twenty minutes remaining.

Higginbotham bested two red shirts in the centre of the field before unleashing a fierce effort narrowly wide of the Buddies’ goal shortly after.

The winger would try once more to find the net but his free-kick was driven inches past the post on 83 minutes.

Nicky Clark got the better of his man in the air on 88 minutes but his header flashed past the far post.

A winner couldn’t be found and Allan Johnston will no doubt feel his side merited the three points over the piece.

His team now travel to Alloa next Saturday with a place in the Scottish Cup Fifth Round up for grabs.

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan, Callum Fordyce (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Paul McMullan (Joe Cardle 88’), John Herron, Nat Wedderburn, Kallum Higginbotham, Nicky Clark, Michael Moffat
Subs not used: David Hutton, Lewis Martin, Callum Morris, Rhys McCabe, Gavin Reilly, Farid El Alagui
Scorer: Higginbotham (37’)

St Mirren: Jamie Langfield, Jason Naismith, Gary Irvine, Andy Webster (Jack Baird 45’), Gary MacKenzie, Stephen Mallan, Rocco Quinn (Lewis Morgan 58’), Craig Storie, Kyle McAllister (Kyle Magennis 73’), John Sutton, Rory Loy
Subs not used: Reece Wilson, Pal Fjelde, Lewis McLear, David Clarkson
Yellow card: Irvine, Quinn
Scorer: MacKenzie (47’)

Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 4108