Dunfermline Ath 1-1 Dundee United

Burchill (right) takes the acclaim from Noel Hunt

Mark Burchill's first-half equaliser earned struggling Dunfermline a valuable point at East End Park.

United had taken an early lead when Garry Kenneth rose above his marker to head Barry Robson's dangerous free-kick into the net.

The outstanding Burchill levelled the scores shortly after, when he appeared to chest home Noel Hunt's cross.

The result leaves United boss Craig Brewster still searching for his first win since taking charge at Tannadice.

The Pars started the match aiming to exorcise the memories of last weekend's crushing defeat by Celtic.

However, it took just seven minutes for their defensive frailties to be exposed again.

Leishman salutes return of pride

Aaron Labonte was goaded into committing a foul on the left-hand side of the Pars' penalty area by David Fernandez.

And, from Robson's in-swinging delivery, an unmarked Kenneth headed the ball back across goal and into the bottom corner of Allan McGregor's net.

Fernandez was causing the home side all manner of problems in the opening stages and, five minutes later, the Spaniard's cutback was met by a powerful drive from Grant Brebner 18 yards from goal.

The former Hibernian midfielder's effort was on target but Greg Shields was well placed to block the shot with an important intervention, which took on added significance when Dunfermline drew level in the 14th minute.

Weather the key for Brewster

Scott Muirhead's through ball sent Hunt racing past the static Stuart Duff and, when the striker beat on-rushing goalkeeper Derek Stillie to the ball 20 yards from goal, he crossed for Mark Burchill to bundle over the line from six yards.

Both sides were trading chances at goal and the Pars were next to register a shot on target with a Darren Young half-volley from 25 yards well saved by Stillie after Kenneth had blocked Hunt's effort inside the box.

Dunfermline created three good chances within the opening three minutes of the second period.

First, a poor clearance from left-back Lee Mair fell to Craig Wilson and his low, curling effort from the edge of the penalty area produced a fine stop low to his right from Stillie.

The United goalkeeper could then only stand and watch as Burchill's flicked header from Yannick Zambernardi's cross drifted just wide of the far post.

Stillie was then again called into action, parrying a Burchill half-volley from 18 yards out.

Dunfermline then came within a whisker of moving into a deserved lead on the hour mark.

Muirhead's cross was headed goalwards by Darren Young, but Brebner was stationed on the line at the far post to hack the ball clear.

Muirhead then blasted wide when given a chance to shoot from 20 yards, after Hunt's cutback.

Colin Samuel's 88th-minute cross almost provided Lee Miller with an opportunity to test McGregor but his acrobatic overhead kick flew well wide of the target.

---

Dunfermline: McGregor, Labonte, Shields, Tod, Zambernardi, Craig Wilson (Daquin 72), Darren Young, Simmons (Ross 56), Muirhead, Burchill (Tarachulski 82), Hunt. Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Donnelly, Iain Campbell, Andy Campbell.

Goals: Burchill 14.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Duff, Kenneth, Archibald, Mair, Robertson, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Miller, Fernandez (Samuel 75). Subs Not Used: Samson, Abbot, Gardiner, McInnes, Cameron, Goodwillie.

Goals: Kenneth 7.

Att: 4,694

Ref: J Underhill