Hearts' misery after losing three straight games continued against Dunfermline but on this occasion they were able to snatch a point in the second half.

Dunfermline on the other hand had so many chances in the first half they should have had the game won before Hearts came back.

After a slow start neither keeper was tested until the llth minute.

Dunfermline's Andy Smith had the first chance when he received Gerry Britton's forward pass but the ball bounced awkwardly and with just keeper Gilles Rousset to beat, Smith shot softly wide.

But Smith made no mistake a minute later when he was unmarked at the far post and nodded home a perfect Greg Shields cross.

Dunfermline kept up the pressure and Richard Huxford had Rousset at full stretch to cover a low drive but was just wide of the post in the 15th minute.

Two minutes later Rousset had to be very sharp to get down to block a Smith shot.

In the 20th minute Hearts forced their first corner but it came to nothing as keeper Lee Butler was fouled as he rose to intercept the ball.

Then two minutes later Neil McCann missed a golden opportunity to equalise when he mis-kicked a Stephane Adam cross seven yards out.

In the 30th minute Hearts forced their second corner but this time McCann's flag kick sped straight into keeper Butler's arms.

Almost immediately the Pars forced two quick corners and the better chance came from the second but Jamie Squires' header was booted off the goal line.

Then in the 39th minute Scott Thomson struck the Hearts upright with a thunderbolt shot after some fine passing between Britton and Huxford.

It was a period of tremendous pressure for Hearts and Smith will be disappointed that he didn't score the Pars second goal three minutes from half-time when he connected yet again with a Shields cross but his header went straight into Rousset's hands.

Dunfermline kept up the pressure at the resumption and they were unfortunate not to go further ahead when Scott McCulloch and Andy Smith broke through the Hearts defence and a series of smart moves almost fooled Rousset.

Then against the run of play Hearts equalised in the 58th minute with a brilliantly-worked goal.

Lee Makel sent Adam through down the right, and the Frenchman cut the ball back to Jim Hamilton from the touchline.

Hamilton coolly slotted the ball home from six yards.

Hamilton had a great chance to put Hearts ahead five minutes later but on this occasion his shot was blocked by Butler.

In the 77th minute Huxford appeared to have scored for Dunfermline after rifling in a bullet from 25 yards that caught keeper Rousset napping.

It rebounded down to the goal line before spinning out but the referee rejected loud appeals from the Pars players for a goal.

Then a minute from time Smith had a great chance to score his second and snatch three points for Dunfermline.

A cross from substitute Stuart Petrie found him unmarked in front of the Hearts goal but he nodded his shot straight into Rousset's arms.

Teams

Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, McCulloch, Ireland, French (Petrie 72), Huxford, Smith, Britton (Faulconbridge 85), Thomson, Squires, Ferguson (Millar 80).

Subs Not Used: Hay, Templeman.

Booked: Ferguson, Squires.

Goals: Smith 12.

Hearts: Rousset, Naysmith, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton (Murie 74), Adam, Hamilton, Makel (Murray 81), Pressley.

Subs Not Used: Hogarth, Severin, Holmes.

Goals: Hamilton 58.

Att: 5,963

Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).

Taken from sportinglife.com