On a boiling hot afternoon a fairly poor crowd - clocking in at just over six thousand - saw the Pars line-up in a 4-4-2 formation. 'Returning' keeper Derek Stillie was protected by a solid back four consisting of Shields, Byrne, Wilson and Skerla. A midfield made up of Nicholson, Dempsey, Mason and - returning from injury - captain Scott Thomson sat behind the forward two - Hunt and Tod.
The Pars got out of the traps quickly and were first to threaten in the first minute when Noel Hunt broke through on goal on for the ball to be forced wide by the United defence. Ian McCall's men showed their intentions minutes later when Grady got on the end of a Barry Robson cross only for the striker to send his volley out for a throw-in.
In the 12th minute the Pars were awarded a free-kick twenty-five yards from the United goal only for free-kick specialist Dempsey's shot to rebound off the visitor's defensive wall.
The 26th minute truly announced the arrival of Dougie McDonald's display of refereeing errors when first Noel Hunt and then Gary Dempsey were both brought down under cynical challenges only for McDonald to award United a free-kick for an innocuous Gary Mason challenge in the middle of the stramash.
The game coasted along for the remainder of the half with a poor 41st minute Barry Robson free-kick and a clash of heads involving Pars captain Scott Thomson the only real talking points. Thommo was taken off for treatment and would fail to re-emerge for the second-half, being replaced by Darren Young.
Davie Hay's first competitive half-time team talk appeared to work wonders for when a rejuvinated Pars side took the lead three minutes into the second-half. An excellent Gary Dempsey pass was picked up on the left wing by Gary Mason who sent in a left-footed cross which was met by a panicky United defence before the ball broke free to ANDY TOD who fired a half volley into the back of the net to put the Pars a goal ahead.
An increasingly vocal home crowd continued to will the Pars forward and less than a minute later the Pars could - and maybe should - have doubled their lead when Barry Nic connected with a cross ten yards from goal, only to see his volley fly into the Norrie McCathie stand. Derek Stillie was called into play shortly after when he made an excellent save to deny a close-range Billy Dodds header.
The Pars continued to press and, in the 54th minute, Andy Tod was taken out by Chris Innes after Toddy had shown tremendous skill to turn the United defender, uncharacteristically Dougie McDonald made the correct decision and showed Innes the yellow card.
On the hour-mark Noel Hunt broke through on the United goal from the angle only to see his shot saved by Tony Bullock, a cross - instead of a shot - would surely have reeped better rewards for the Pars. Nine minutes later Hunt was again in on the action when he sent a spectacular overhead kick just wide of the Bullock's right hand post.
With the Pars in control of proceedings Davie Hay changed the Pars frontline in the 73rd minute when Craig Brewster and Billy Mehmet replaced Tod and Hunt. Two minutes later United substitution Jim MCINTYRE equalised for the visitor's against the run of play when he got on the end of a Colin Samuel cross after a well-worked United move.
The Pars had the perfect opportunity to seal what would have been a deserved win in the 78th minute when an excellent flick by the impressive Darren Young sent Gary Mason through one-on-one with Bullock. With the ball seeming to take an eternity to lie for Mason, it looked as though a goal was a certainty only for the midfielder to send his shot agonisingly wide of the right hand post.
The Pars continued to press for the remainder of the ninety minutes - with Brewster demonstrating his class by opening up the United defence almost effortlessly - however failed to find any kind of cutting edge.
In a game largely dominated by the Pars, Davie Hay will no doubt be ruing the missed opporunities which would have given the Pars three points on what was a tricky first game of the season. The return, and performance, of Brewster is an undoubted boost ahead of Thursday's UEFA cup tie however its a case of fingers crossed over the fitness of captain Scott Thomson who suffered slight concussion on his return to the side.
Man of the Match - ANDRIUS SKERLA - A typically top-class performance from one of the SPL's outstanding defenders.
PARS - Stillie 7, Shields 8, Byrne 7, Skerla 9, Wilson 7, Nicholson 7, Dempsey 7, Mason 8, Thomson 6, (Darren Young H/T) 8, Hunt 6, (Mehmet 73) 6, Tod 7, (Brewster 73) 8.
SUBS NOT USED - Langfield, Campbell, Donnelly, Labonte.