DUNFERMLINE were forced to settle for a point after a frustrating draw with Queen of the South tonight.

Michael Moffat’s early opener put the Pars ahead but Queens levelled through Joseph Thomson to claim a share of the spoils.

While the commitment of both teams couldn’t be questioned, the game lacked quality for large parts but Athletic will be disappointed not to have made it two wins on the spin.

Allan Johnston named the same starting line-up that defeated Dumbarton 5-1 on Saturday as John Herron and Nat Wedderburn, who both picked up knocks, fit enough to play.

The opening quarter of this one passed with little incident – other than Paul McMullan going down under a challenge inside five minutes – but, in the 17th minute, Athletic took the lead with the contest’s first effort at goal.

It was a defensive nightmare for Queens, who failed to deal with Jason Talbot’s ball into the box, allowing Moffat to use his strength to hold off the attentions of his marker before slotting a cool finish beyond Lee Robinson from around 12 yards.

It was the ideal start but the visitors immediately tried to respond through Dominic Thomas and Thomson, but the former’s shot was blocked before the second effort was sclaffed well wide.

Dunfermline’s lead however was short-lived as the Doonhamers equalised just 11 minutes after falling behind.

Stephen Dobbie was at the heart of it, showing good feet at the edge of the box to find John Rankin, who find Thomson lurking at the far post to fire past Sean Murdoch from around eight yards.

Both teams were giving away possession, rather frustratingly, with regularity but the visitors had two decent opportunities as the half drew towards a conclusion.

They both came within a minute of each other; Thomson first drove wide at the near post after good play released him into the area on the right, before Dobbie showed good feet to dance between covering Pars defenders and shoot from close range, but Murdoch blocked well.

Moments later, the Pars broke forward on the left with McMullan sent scampering down the flank, where he drove into the penalty area.

He pulled the ball back for Moffat who was lurking with intent, but his effort was well charged down by wholehearted Queens defending.

Dunfermline immediately forced a half chance after the restart; Kallum Higginbotham’s corner was returned to him by Clark, allowing the Englishman to cross for Lee Ashcroft, who just couldn’t generate enough power in his header to trouble keeper Robinson.

At the other end, Rankin had a near-post effort deflected wide from Thomas’ centre but good opportunities were few and far between, as a weak Dobbie shot from 25 yards down the throat of Murdoch demonstrated.

On the hour mark, indecision between the outrushing Robinson and centre back Darren Brownlie almost allowed Moffat to latch on to Higginbotham’s clipped ball over the top, but that was the winger’s last action as he was replaced by Joe Cardle.

Much of the evening’s play was summed soon afterwards by Thomas, who impressed for Queens, who sent a shot out for a Pars throw after good work initially to break clear of a couple of home tackles.

The experienced Dobbie again proved a threat as the clock ticked into the last 20 minutes as he was played in towards goal on the left from a throw-in; too easy from a Pars viewpoint but the striker’s sweet curler was well saved by Murdoch.

Dunfermline though came so close to retaking the lead with 15 minutes left when good play at the edge of the area, initiated by Cardle, set up Clark at the edge of the box, but his well-hit shot struck the inside of the post and deflected to safety.

Moffat and McMullan then made way for former Doonhamers Gavin Reilly and Michael Paton, which was greeted with a couple of audible jeers, and moments later Cardle was inches away from netting with a left foot curler from the edge of the area.

As time started running out, Callum Morris saw both a header and a spectacular overhead attempt from a Paton free-kick blocked as Pars pressed, but they should’ve scored with three minutes left.

Cardle’s free-kick was nodded out to Paton on the right, whose delivery was perfect for Herron in the middle of the goal, but his header from six yards was straight at Robinson.

Queens sub Owen Bell and Cardle both had efforts from the edge of the area that amounted to nothing in the closing moments but neither side could find a winner.

Pars: Murdoch, Geggan, Ashcroft, Morris, Talbot, McMullan, Herron, Wedderburn, Higginbotham, Moffat, Clark.

Subs: Fordyce, Paton, Cardle, McCabe, Reilly, Spence, Gill.

Queen of the South: Robinson, Hamill, Brownlie, Higgins, Rankin, Dobbie, Jacobs, Thomson, Thomas, Mercer, Dykes.

Subs: Dowie, Lyle, Hilson, Murray, Bell, Carmichael.

Referee: Euan Anderson.

Attendance: 2,653.