NINE men Dunfermline managed to cling onto their unbeaten run as they held out for a point in Lanarkshire.

After being crowned champions last weekend, Dunfermline were looking to keep their run of 21 league games without a defeat going.

James McPake made two changes to last weekend’s line up with Chris Mochrie and Paul Allan starting in place of Matty Todd and Chris Hamilton.

They started brightly and Kane Ritchie-Hosler was striding up the park in the opening seconds. He linked up with Craig Wighton but Airdrie were able to clear any early danger.

Soon after, the visitors could have gone ahead when Airdrie keeper Josh Rae attempted to clear a back pass. Lewis McCann got in the way and his block floated towards goal only to hit the bar and eventually be saved.

Minutes later, Airdrie were on the attack and Craig Watson got his head onto a corner but his effort was safely over.

There was another chance soon after when Adam Frizzell put Charlie Telfer through but his shot hit the post and was cleared.

Good work between McCann and Chris Mochrie saw the ball put through to Craig Wighton soon after but his shot from the edge of the box was way wide.

A solid challenge from Ewan Otoo in the box had Airdrie shouting for a penalty after 16 minutes but ref Greg Aitken waved the protests away.

Airdrie could have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when Joe Chalmers lost the ball on the bye line. The ball was flicked into the box but Airdrie failed to capitalise.

A minute later, Calum Gallagher forced a finger tip save from Mehmet. His shot looked like it had evaded the Pars keeper but he dived and managed to tip the ball round for a corner.

Pars came close on 40 minutes when Ewan Otoo rose to meet Chalmers' corner but his header went just wide.

Former Par Rhys McCabe had the chance to do some damage just before half time when he stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the box however his set piece was deflected out for a corner.

Both teams came out fighting in the second half and the left hand of Denis Mehmet came to the rescue when Callum Smith broke through. He pulled off the impressive save before collecting the ball.

Craig Wighton put the Pars ahead on 57 minutes when he punched on the ball just inside the box and chipped the ball over Josh Rae.

However, the lead didn’t last long as minutes later, Calum Gallagher put his side level.

A corner had resulted in a bit of a scramble in the box which ended in Gallagher netting.

The game took a turn for the worse for James McPake’s side when skipper Kyle Benedictus saw red after a challenge on Callum Smith on the edge of the box.

Ref Greg Aitken dished out another red card soon after after a challenge close to the dugouts by Kevin O’Hara.

He resulting melee also saw assistant Pars boss Dave MacKay given his marching orders.

The closing 15 minutes brought with it much Airdrie pressure but Dunfermline managed to hold on to go home with a draw.

Airdrie

Rae, Ballantyne, McCabe, Fordyce, Gallagher, Frizzell, Smith, McMaster (Stanway 60), Watson, Devenny (McGregor 72), Telfer.

Subs: Hutton, Taylor-Sinclair, Kouider-Aissa, Deveney, Dixon, McGill, Byrd.

Goal: Gallagher (61)

 

Dunfermline

Mehmet, Comrie, Edwards, Benedictus, Chalmers, Wighton, Mochrie, McCann (O’Hara 54), Otoo, Allan (Mahon 45), Ritchie-Hosler (MacDonald 72)

Subs: Little, Hamilton, Todorov, Fenton, Sutherland.

Goals: Wighton (57)

Red cards: Benedictus, O’Hara.

Ref: Greg Aitken