Clark left frustrated despite goal and assist

A goal and an assist proved scant consolation for Nicky Clark after Dunfermline squandered the chance to claim a morale-boosting win.

Striker Clark first cancelled out Joe Thomson’s opener with a header early in the second half and then set up Joe Cardle to put the Pars ahead after his shot rebounded from a post.

With nine minutes remaining Dunfermline’s first away win of the Championship season was within touching distance but they switched off and allowed Garry Fleming to hit the leveller just two minutes later.

Clark said: “It’s another frustrating one for us. We played a lot better in the second half and should have been able to see the game out.

“We needed a wee spark from somewhere and Joe (Cardle) has come on and given us that. But it’s disappointing we didn’t go on and win and start climbing the table.

“We have a good squad but we need to go out and prove it on a Saturday and we haven’t really done that – myself included.

“It was good to get a goal and I thought the second one was going in for me too.

“I maybe should have had another late in the game but we should have seen it out anyway.”

Dunfermline dominated from the start only to fall behind when Robert Thomson crossed for namesake Joe to stab home from close range.

But the Pars, boosted by the introduction of Cardle, hit back five minutes after the restart when Jason Talbot’s inviting cross was met by Clark.

Clark then inadvertently turned provider when his shot was touched on to a post by Alan Martin and Cardle netted. But Sons hit back to claim a point when Fleming scored from 14 yards.

Dejected Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston, whose side remain just a point above the relegation play-off place, admitted: “It’s been the story of our season so far and it’s very frustrating.

“We worked so hard to get back into the game after losing a sloppy goal and it looked like there would be only one winner after we went ahead.

“But poor defending and individual errors are costing us and we have to learn from our mistakes.”

Nicky Clark: saw the game as a missed opportunity for Pars.