Pars held to frustrating draw

by RivalsDM


Updated: August 16, 2007, 6:05 PM EST Comment

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Dunfermline face an uphill struggle to get through their UEFA Cup second qualifying round tie against BK Hacken following a 1-1 draw at home.

Jim Hamilton headed the Fifers ahead in the first minute but young keeper Sean Murdoch - on for the injured Roddy McKenzie - saw a harmless long ball bounce over his head for Jonas Henriksson to nod a second-half away goal.

The Swedes deserved their draw after producing the better football for much of the game although Hamilton hit the post as the Pars threatened from set-pieces.

Dunfermline - who have lost their opening two Irn-Bru First Division games - again failed to show the form which took them to the Scottish Cup final.

Hacken, who, like the Fifers were relegated last season, qualified for the tournament via the Fair Play league but they had defeated KR Reykjavik in the previous round and showed they will cause problems in Gothenburg in a fortnight.

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Dunfermline fans had waited 37 years for a European tie at East End Park but they had to watch just 55 seconds of action before the Pars took the lead through Hamilton, who was only in the side because Tam McManus had suffered a dead leg.

Darren Young's whipped cross was headed high into the air by Hacken defender Mats Heden and Sol Bamba rose highest to head the ball on to the bar from 12 yards before Hamilton nodded over the line.

The Swedes almost responded immediately with a powerful 30-yard free-kick from Brazilian Jose Antonio Pereira, but McKenzie held on well.

McKenzie almost gifted the visitors an equaliser seconds later when he kicked the ball straight against Dioh Williams following a risky Scott Thomson backpass.

The Pars were let off though as Williams lost track of the ball as it spun high into the air.

The keeper lasted less than eight minutes as he limped off with a thigh injury and was replaced by 21-year-old Murdoch, who had only played senior matches on loan to Forfar and Hamilton.

Hacken were producing some decent moves, the best of which saw Williams head two yards wide from an Ari Skulason cross midway through the half.

The Liberian international shot over from a decent position inside the box and then forced a good block from Murdoch from 20 yards.

The Pars were struggling to create any passing moves although they looked dangerous at set-pieces and Stephen Simmons glanced Kevin Harper's free-kick just wide.

And the hosts almost took advantage of two free-kicks in the opening stages of the second period.

The first, from Harper, saw Mark Burchill break free and glance a header into the keeper's hands before Hamilton struck the post from six yards after Bamba had headed on a Stephen Glass inswinger.

The Pars had clearly been stung by some harsh words from Stephen Kenny at half-time and Simmons was inches over with a powerful 20-yard strike.

But the Swedes were level in the 57th minute in a disastrous moment for Murdoch.

David Marek overhit a long ball down the left but the ball took a wicked bounce over the youngster's outstretched arms and Henriksson ran on to nod the ball into an empty net.

The Pars looked stunned but Murdoch atoned for his error with a good one-on-one save from Larsson after Wilson had missed his tackle on the right channel.

Dunfermline composed themselves and put some pressure on with some more set-pieces but their most promising opening would not quite fall for Bamba.

But Hacken came back at the Pars again and Murdoch pulled off another decent stop from Skulason's 20-yard drive.

The game continued in an open manner and Bamba blasted the best chance for a winner well wide from 15 yards in the closing stages.

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