DUNFERMLINE suffered last-gasp heartbreak on Saturday as they slipped to a cruel defeat at the hands of East Kilbride.

With the match set to end in a draw, Calum Blackwood’s penalty on the stroke of full-time saw a fine effort from Derek O’Riordan’s side end in disappointment, although they came away with the consolation of a losing bonus point.

After their superb 24-8 win at Royal High Corstorphine in their last outing, confidence was high in the McKane camp that they could turn the tables on an East Kilbride side that had won 27-13 in West Fife in September.

They made the perfect start to the contest as Zac Zropf kicked over an early penalty but the Blues were 7-3 down after 13 minutes thanks to a Graeme Blackwood try that was converted by Calum Blackwood.

On a heavy and slippy surface, Dunfermline responded well and Scott Gracie handed them the lead as he crossed over for their first try in the left corner that was not converted.

The visitors continued to probe at the East Kilbride defence and only a lack of conviction and excellent rearguard action prevented Dunfermline taking one of three excellent scoring chances that fell their way, and their cause was helped soon after when Chris McLellan was yellow carded.

But with 14 men, the hosts found themselves back in front five minutes before half-time. From a lineout, East Kilbride gained an offside penalty that was kicked over by Calum Blackwood for three points and a 10-8 advantage.

Another Calum Blackwood penalty just after the break saw East Kilbride move further clear but O’Riordan’s resolute side again responded as a break led by Liam Arbuthnott eventually saw Liam Quarm cross the whitewash for their second unconverted try to level the scores at 13-13.

Arbuthnott was then harshly sinbinned for a high tackle on Christopher McLellan but despite being a man short, the visitors regained the advantage as the ever-reliable Zropf kicked over a penalty following a handling error from the home side.

The game quickly swung back in favour of East Kilbride as Calum Blackwood knocked over another three points to bring the scores level once more after Dunfermline were penalised for a knock-on 15 metres out.

With both teams pushing for a winning score, Zropf kicked a penalty into the East Kilbride 22 but the visitors knocked on just seven metres from the whitewash and they would rue that missed opportunity in the final moments of the 14 minutes of injury time that were played.

The hosts ran the ball into Dunfermline territory and after the McKane men conceded a penalty some 40 metres out, Calum Blackwood sent an excellent kick over the posts to snatch victory for the Lanarkshire side.

Dunfermline return home for a vital match this weekend against bottom dogs Murrayfield Wanderers, and kick-off at McKane Park is at 2pm.