PARS 1-1 Greenock Morton

DUNFERMLINE failed to move into second in the Championship after being held to a frustrating draw by Morton tonight.

Andy Ryan gave the hosts the lead but Gary Oliver's leveller ensured the visitors were only the second team this season to leave East End Park with something other than defeat.

Athletic move up to third on goal difference but they will be disappointed not to have produced a better performance and result.

Pars boss Allan Johnston was forced into two changes from Saturday's Scottish Cup win at Queen's Park.

Kallum Higginbotham and Fraser Aird were missing through suspension having been sent off at Falkirk in their last league match and Fraser Aird and Andy Ryan were brought in.

Johnston could only name six substitutes for the clash, which was delayed by 10 minutes due to problems with the electronic turnstiles at the Norrie McCathie Stand.

When the action did get underway, the first opportunity fell to the hosts from a set-piece, with Nicky Clark testing the reactions of Derek Gaston with a well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Mark Russell forced Sean Murdoch into action with a snap-shot from range but, in the 21st minute, the Pars made the breakthrough.

Clark was at the heart of it, running clear on the left before trying to tee-up Cardle, who had made his way into the area.

Morton's defence appeared to have cut out the danger but the ball ricocheted into the path of Ryan, who made no mistake from close range.

Dean Shiels, sadly the subject of taunts from some of the small band of away supporters, went close with a first-time shot moments later while Clark was unfortunate not to make a clean connection with a sweeping ball in by Aird.

The Canadian winger soon went close to scoring himself as he drove into the visitors' box before shooting at Gaston, who spilled the ball initially before gathering at the second attempt.

However the Pars were stung in the 34th minute when Morton hit back.

There was a little bit of controversy in the build-up as referee Stephen Finnie elected not to give a handball against Bob McHugh, albeit with Athletic still in possession.

Michael Doyle broke away from both Cardle and Jason Talbot on the right and sent a low ball into the middle of the Dunfermline box and, after they failed to clear, Oliver was on hand to fire beyond Murdoch from six yards.

Five minutes from the break, the home side - and Callum Morris particularly - had a big escape.

The skipper's attempt to find Murdoch was underhit and latched onto by Oliver and, as the keeper came rushing out, brought the Morton man down at the edge of the area.

Murdoch was booked and, although Gary Harkins' set-piece was deflected into the net, it was done so via a team-mate in an offside position so the goal was immediately ruled out.

Save for a couple of blocked efforts from Cardle and Aird, it was Morton who looked more assured at the start of the second half but Aird sent a decent free-kick not too far wide on the hour.

Dunfermline though were guilty of giving possession away far too cheaply and, as the visitors continued to look assured on the ball, the home fans grew more anxious and frustrated.

Jim Duffy's men were doing well to throw bodies in the way - with the solid Talbot and Clark again foiled by the red wall - before controversy erupted in 69 minutes.

Aird's cross was blocked by Luca Gasparotto - deemed by Finnie with an arm - but, even though it looked clearly inside the box, he awarded a free-kick, which Ryan wasted.

A swift Dunfermline break led to the next opportunity as Cardle charged forward and, with options either side, played in Aird on the right but he lost his footing at the vital moment as his shot was easily gathered by Gaston.

A deep cross was retrieved by Talbot on the left, who fed Cardle but, despite working himself into a great position for a shot, he then slipped as Morton survived once more.

Athletic's final delivery was lacking all too often and, after a nice touch off the chest of Clark sent Aird clear before his cross found nobody but Gaston, further groans could be heard around the ground.

It almost got worse as substitute Robert Thomson, on a matter of moments, connected excellently with a superb cross from the right but Murdoch was there to make an equally as impressive stop.

Johnston threw on Michael Paton for Cardle as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes and the substitute tried to conjure up a winner with a decent strike that flashed wide of goal.

Paton quickly went even closer; Ryan Williamson's cross eluded Clark and Ryan and fell to the midfielder, whose delicate effort to the far corner ended just past the post.

But that was the end of the action as both teams had to settle for a point.

Pars: Murdoch, Williamson, Morris, Ashcroft, Talbot, Aird, Wedderburn, Shiels, Cardle, Clark, Ryan.

Subs: Martin, M'Voto, Splaine, Paton, Smith, Gill.

Morton: Gaston, Murdoch, O'Ware, Lamie, Doyle, Oliver, Forbes, McHugh, Harkins, Russell, Gasparotto.

Subs: Thomson, Tiffoney, Langan, Armour, Barr, Doohan.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.