Kilmarnock 1 Dunfermline 1
(SPL Match No.31 - Rugby Park, 16 Mar 2003)

(Photos from SNS & used with permission)

Kris Boyd's header with 9 mins was enough to help Killie pick up a valuable point to maintain the 6 point differential between the sides. Killie have never lost when Boyd scores, and the Pars have not won at Rugby Park in 11 matches.

And Stevie Crawford, so often the goal hero for the Pars, will take much of the blame for his side's failure to narrow the gap in the race for Uefa Cup places.

Dunfermline deserved the lead given them by an own goal from former East End Park defender Greg Shields (left. But captain Crawford conceded a crazy corner from the half-way line and Killie capitalised when substitute Kris Boyd headed home Steve Fulton's cross.

Kilmarnock had been unchanged from the side that drew at Dens Park last Saturday.

The visitors, who started the game six points behind the Rugby Park side, had Lee Bullen back in their starting line-up after injury.

Killie, who were going for their fourth successive home win and had not lost to Dunfermline at home since 1986, went into the game as favourites following their recent good run.

Dunfermline imposed themselves early, but it was Killie who made the first real chance. Gary McSwegan broke clear but sent his shot-cum-cross wide of the far post with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Fellow striker Andy McLaren had the next chance when he found himself free to meet a cross into the six yard box only to send his header straight at Derek Stillie.

Dunfermline had failed to take advantage of their domination of possession but came close after 25 minutes.

Craig Brewster sent a header flashing just wide of the post after climbing above the Killie defence to meet a Barry Nicholson cross.

McLaren stung the hands of Stillie at the other end with a rasping drive from the edge of the box. Dunfermline were first to threaten after the break, Bullen playing the ball into the path of Crawford inside the box.

But the Scotland striker blasted the ball into the side netting from an acute angle. Stillie had to be quick off his line to block Hay's effort inside the box, but it was Dunfermline who continued to control the play, as Killie were having difficulty in stringing passes out of their midfield.

A Crawford cross set up Brewster with an excellent chance, but the striker's header from eight yards was clawed off the line by goalkeeper Colin Meldrum.

Dunfermline made the breakthrough after 59 minutes, when Meldrum could only palm a low drive by Kilgannon and Shields (left) thumped the ball high into his own net in his attempt to clear from in front of goal. Things got worse for Kilmarnock midway through the second-half when French defender Freddie Dindeleux was stretchered off following a clash of heads with Gary Dempsey, with Kris Boyd coming on in his place.

Crawford conceded the vital corner when he thumped the ball from the half-way line in an attempt to challenge for the ball. His mistake in giving away a silly corner was to prove costly for the Pars.

As the Pars packed their defence to protect their slender lead super-sub   Kris Boyd  (right) rose at the back post to bullet Steve Fulton's corner into the net in the 81st minute. This was Boyd's 10th SPL goal of the season.

Peter Canero thought he had netted the winner four minutes from the end but a linesman's flag denied the Ayrshire side collecting all three points.

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Innes, Shields, Dindeleux, Canero, Fulton, Mahood, Fowler, Hay, McSwegan, McLaren. Subs: Stewart, Locke, Murray, Boyd, McDonald.

Attendance: 4,021 (Match screened live on the BBC prior to the Old Firm CIS Final)