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Dunfermline controlled this game for long spells without creating too many good chances in front of goal. Two first class saves from Ayr keeper Harry Stone denied the Pars deserved three points.

Dunfermline opened their home league schedule against an Ayr United side that were undefeated in their opening five league and cup matches.

There were four changes from the Pars side that started away against Inverness Caley Thistle. Aston Oxborough Kian Corbally and Zak Rudden were not in the squad - out with injuries and on to the bench went John Tod. That meant places for Musa Dibaga, Alfons Amade Chris Kane and, for his starting debut, Aaron Donnelly.

On the eve of the match Dunfermline had made two signings. Ugandan Allan Oyirwoth on loan from New England Revolution and Nigerian forward Olamilekan Adams on an initial two-year deal from Czech side SK Dynamo Česke Budějovice. The 21 year-old Nigerian was on the bench.

Gary Naysmith`s Ayr United side were without Leon King and Kieran Shanks and into their starting eleven came Liam Dick and Ross Taylor.

Dunfermline held the upper hand from the kick off. Andrew Tod accepted an Oli Shaw pass to get in the first shot on target in just third minute. His effort was deflected for a corner on the left that was immediately followed by another from the right. Mark McKenzie headed away the threat from Tod`s delivery. The same fate was experienced at a ninth minute corner before the opening goal arrived in 14th minute.

The goal came from a Shea Kearney ball onto the six yard box that TOD turned into left side of the Ayr goal. 1-0

The visitors had created nothing to exercise Dibaga but they did earn their first corner in 20 minutes. The delivery was overcooked but McKenzie`s header back was held easily by Digaba. At the midpoint of the first half Sam Cleall-Harding embarked on a brilliant run through the middle and his well connected on-target shot from 18 yards was tipped over the bar by Harry Stone.

From both flanks Kearney and Fraser supplied crosses that continued to keep the pressure on Ayr. It was Fraser who forced a 29th minute corner off Watret but again Tod`s cross was headed away by McKenzie. Next chance came from a Kearney cross but that was deflected into the arms of Stone.

Despite not having seen a lot of the first half play, Ayr rallied towards the interval. An extremely well timed tackle by Luke Robinson eliminated the danger on the counter but in 44th minute the visitors won their second corner. The delivery in from the left was able to travel to Stirton at the far post and an alert Dibaga save at the far post led to another corner. Dibaga turned this one behind for yet another corner which cost the Pars their lead. Taylor sent the corner over from left, the ball found the head McBETH and in added time Ayr were back on level terms.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Ayr United 1

In fourth minute of the second half the Honest Men came close to scoring again. Liam Dick`s cross was headed narrowly wide right by Taylor. Next it was a case of no after you on the edge of the Ayr box. Fraser`s pass had picked out Tod but Shaw looked like he was the one going to shoot until after a pause Tod hit a shot that Stone saved.

Still in 51st minute, a free kick quickly taken by Robinson to Kane threaded the ball to Kearney in front of the North West but his cross was unlucky not to find a Pars player to convert. Opportunities continued to drop for the Fifers. An Amade pass picked out Tod on the left side of the box but his low shot was held. A Fraser blast earned the Pars another corner but again they failed to make this count.

Chris Kane was the first substitution made by Neil Lennon in 61st minute but not before the former St Johnstone striker had played a beautiful ball into path of Shaw but the striker failed to shoot. Before going off Kane had also played in Tod and he failed to pull the trigger as well.

Ayr had survived when they probably shouldn`t have and began to look lively in the final third. Stirton headed a Taylor cross wide right before Robinson made a burst forward. The man signed from Wigan found Josh Cooper who had replaced Chris Kane and Cooper fed the ball on to Kearney. No shot materialised and Tod displayed his frustration with a shot well wide from a poor chance. The frustration was also being vented from the home stands as all the passing and slow build ups were creating nothing.

Ayr United really should have made matters worse as Dunfermline were let off the hook by Taylor. The close season signing from Stenhousemuir beat off the last ditch challenges of both Robinson and Donnelly before blasting his shot over the bar.

Back to the other end and when a corner failed to trouble the defence, Donnelly popped up wide left to execute a cross that Stone held. Dunfermline continued to have significant possession in the Ayr half and the home support were baying for their favourites to shoot. Cluall-Harding tried to placate them but his attempt was blocked before yet again the Pars got lucky when a strong Taylor cross 15 minutes from the end deflected off Donnelly for a corner that Dibaga dealt with.

The 77th minute saw the introduction of the Dunfermline number 99, Ola Adams, who took over upfront from Andrew Tod. The 21 year-old sub immediately imposed a presence but he would not alter the outcome. Amade drove a good chance over the bar from the edge of the box and Shaw missed a Fraser cross. In the second minute of time added on Josh Cooper`s shot was touched wide and in the fourth minute added on Harry Stone made a heroic save to deny late sub Keith Bray who expertly met a Cooper cross. The keeper certainly saved the day for Naysmith`s men and the 386 strong travelling support stayed on after the final whistle to serenade their keeper.

Dunfermline had to settle for a point to add to the one they took from Inverness Caley the previous week and with them being involved in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup next Saturday, Livingston in a fortnight`s time will be the next chance to register a first league win of the season.



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