Blunder by goalkeeper leaves Pars on edge

Hamilton (1)

BK Hacken 1

Henriksson (57)

WHILE it looked as though Dunfermline might replicate their cup form of last season, the East End Park side were held at home last night by BK Hacken, and now face a daunting trip to Gothenburg at the end of the month.

Whatever the whys and wherefores of their qualification for the UEFA Cup, First Division Dunfermline had seemed eager to make the most of this chance to represent Scotland. While they maintained an enviable home record in Europe - only once in 21 European matches have they been beaten at East End Park - Dunfermline conceded a dreadful goal early in the second half after Jim Hamilton had given the home side a first-minute lead.

Jonas Henriksson was the player who gleefully accepted the chance to equalise after Sean Murdoch, who replaced the injured Roddy McKenzie in the Dunfermline goal, made an awful hash of dealing with opposition goalkeeper Christoffer Kallqvist's kick-out.

It was Murdoch's competitive debut and the moment is sure to torment him. It might also return to haunt Dunfermline in Sweden, with their opponents displaying enough verve to suggest the return in a just under a fortnight's time will be fraught with danger.

Dunfermline began like an express train. Kevin Harper has experienced mixed fortunes since his return to Scotland, but did well to win a corner within seconds of the start.

Two poor attempts to cross from the winger were followed by Darren Young's more hazardous centre, and, although the ball was cleared, it dropped onto Souleymane Bamba's forehead. But the defender's looping header escaped Hacken keeper Christoffer Kallqvist's despairing drive, but bashed back off the bar. Present in the right place at the right time, as so often in his career, was Hamilton, and he headed home from three yards. A mere 53 seconds had elapsed.

The home supporters savoured the moment of their team's first European goal at East End Park since 1970, when Dunfermline defeated Anderlecht 3-2 in what was then the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It had been a long time coming, though some relief from this European exclusion had come in the shape of 2004's brief UEFA Cup campaign.

The experience was not entirely pleasant, with Dunfermline, then owners of an artificial pitch, forced to play in Perth, where they managed to concede two late, critical goals against Icelandic part-timers FH Hafnarfjordur. Appetite had been whetted, though.

East End Park, while far from full, harboured a level of anticipation which identified the contest as something other than an Irn-Bru First Division fixture. The colour of the Hacken shirts was the hue of the soft drink, however, and the Swedes could have done with its fortifying properties after such a wretched start.

To their credit, they managed an almost immediate response in what proved a comic episode. Initially, Scott Thomson was short with his back pass to Roddy McKenzie, but, with opposition forward Dioh Williams bearing down, the Dunfermline keeper was also guilty of letting danger develop further by taking an inordinate time to clear.

As almost everyone in the crowd feared - there were less than 20 away fans present - McKenzie's effort struck Williams' back, and the ball arced into the air. What Williams needed most at this moment was a helpful voice to call out: 'It's above you'.

No such direction was issued, and the striker remained oblivious to the ball dropping behind him in front of an open goal. The delay offered McKenzie some critical time to scamper back, and, by the time he challenged Williams, the striker could only send the ball wide. Barely three minutes had passed, and the match seemed already crammed with incident. More drama was to follow when McKenzie informed the home bench he was struggling, having injured himself during the muddle. Murdoch deputised, and was required to be alert as Hacken settled, although his own troubles were to come.

The interval saw a further change forced upon Dunfermline, with Thomson unable to continue. His place went to Scott Morrison, and those who allowed themselves some moments to lament Thomson's misfortune were soon out of their seats in fevered expectation of another Dunfermline goal. A Stephen Glass free-kick just minutes into the half was flicked on by Bamba. Again, Hamilton tapped into his striker's instinct, and latched onto the loose ball. His effort, however, hit the wrong side of the post.

This became a more serious regret in 57 minutes, when Hacken claimed a precious away goal in circumstances which bordered on farcical. Murdoch completely misjudged a long punt from Kallqvist, which bounced over his head. Henriksson could hardly believe his luck, and waltzed the loose ball into the net. Above him sat hundreds of Dunfermline fans in the Norrie McCathie stand, stunned into silence as they began to contemplate the possible consequences of this cheaply conceded strike.