Dunfermline 1 Hearts 1

By Andrew Dickson, PA Sport

Hearts striker Stephane Adam grabbed a crucial share of the points with a dramatic equaliser four minutes into injury time at Dunfermline.

Dunfermline had looked all set for a win after defender Scott Thomson had put them in front with a blistering free-kick after 54 minutes but Craig Levein's Jambos never gave up and claimed a share of the spoils with Adam's goal.

But the late goal sparked angry scenes among the Dunfermline players who appeared baffled by the amount of injury time played at East End Park by referee Kenny Clark.

Both sides had come out with attacking 3-5-2 formations but it was Dunfermline who started the brighter side.

They created their first chance within a minute when Barry Nicholson released Steve Crawford down the right wing, but his turn and shot was deflected away for a corner by Steven Pressley, before the ball was eventually cleared.

Hearts had their first chance on six minutes, when Scott Severin played the ball to the energetic Gary Wales, but after he cut across the face of the home defence he watched his shot from 20 yards sneak just inches past goalkeeper Scott Thomson's post.

Dunfermline were the dominant force in an entertaining first half though and captain Ian Ferguson came close when he hit a crisp 25-yard effort low towards the bottom-right corner but it was deflected clear and the score remained goalless.

The visitors did create chances of their own on the break though, and they could have taken the lead three minutes later through Pressley, but his header from six yards out from Steve Fulton's cross was held on the line.

Fulton then came close himself but his low shot was comfortably gathered on the line by the keeper.

Dunfermline tried to press forward and, although they enjoyed the lion's share of possession, they made it count for little and it was the Jambos who were carving the more clear-cut opportunities.

And they could have gone into half-time in front after an excellent chance came their way five minutes before the break.

Ricardo Fuller broke clear of the static home defence, but, although he beat the keeper Thomson, his namesake defender got back in time to clear the ball on the line.

There were no changes in personnel at the break, but there was a change in the balance of power at the start of the second half as Hearts began to dominate proceedings after a first 45 minutes largely controlled by the Pars.

Levein's side bombarded Thomson's goal and three times in two minutes Fuller alone tried his luck, but on each occasion the keeper was equal to the task.

Then, against the run of play, Dunfermline took the lead after 54 minutes from a free-kick, after Andy Webster had been booked for chopping down new Pars signing Seyni N'Diaye.

And it was Thomson, who had scored twice against Rangers 10 days previously, who hit the net.

The ball was rolled by Nicholson to Ferguson, and he stopped it dead before Thomson hammered a sweet 25-yard drive beyond Niemi at the far post.

Hearts tried to hit back as their pressure looked to be counting for nothing and they nearly levelled within two minutes.

Alan Maybury ran up the right flank, and his cross was met by Wales, but his downward header hit the side-netting.

Dunfermline pushed forward for another goal, and they almost got it through N'Diaye.

Chris McGroarty guided a measured ball to him on the left, after the African had outstripped Maybury and Severin for pace, his blistering shot from an acute angle flew just over Niemi's goal.

The home side continued to press ahead rather than sit on their lead, and they looked the more likely side to score in the closing stages.

Hearts boss Levein went for broke with 11 minutes remaining, as he threw on Steven Boyack and Adam for Wales and Gronlund.

The changes worked immediately as the substitutes combined to grab the equaliser three minutes into injury time.

Boyack swung in a corner from the left which Simmons nodded on to Adam, and the Frenchman did the rest as he tapped the ball over the line to ensure the match finished level at referee Clark's full-time whistle.

Teams:

Dunfermline: Scott Y Thomson, MacPherson, Rossi, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Ferguson (Hampshire 83), McGroarty, Panopoulos (Mason 67), N'Diaye (Bullen 63), Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Harrower, Kilgannon.

Goals: Scott Thomson 54.

Hearts: Niemi, Maybury, Mahe, Pressley, Webster, Severin, Simmons, Fulton (Kirk 69), Gronlund (Boyack 80), Fuller, Wales (Adam 80).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, McCann.

Booked: Gronlund, Mahe, Webster, Fuller, Boyack.

Goals: Adam 90.

Att: 5,527

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com