Aberdeen and Dunfermline played out an entertaining if frustrating goalless draw in the sunshine of Pittodrie in a game which never looked like producing a winner.

There was plenty of effort and commitment from both sides for which the fans must have been reasonably satisfied.

But, despite both teams hitting the woodwork twice, neither side could find the elusive opener.

There was some early trouble for the home side who began the game in third gear.

In the third minute a free-kick floated into the Dons box by Dunfermline midfielder Barry Nicholson caused panic before defender Mark Perry cleared the danger.

In the early stages the visitors showed up slightly the better and a seventh minute effort from Stevie Crawford, from the edge of the box, was accurate enough but lacked the power to trouble Dons 'keeper Ryan Esson.

Dunfermline should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Crawford sent David Graham clear on the halfway line.

The ex-Rangers player ran on, steadied himself, but the shot was straight at Esson who parried clear.

Nicholson brought out a good save from Esson, with the 'keeper doing well to reach a lob from just inside the six yard box.

The Dons had little to show for the opening period aside from a poor shot from defender Kevin McNaughton which went well wide of Marco Ruitenbeek's right hand post.

It was the Pars 'keeper who caused panic in the Dunfermline box in the 22nd minute when he delayed a clearance, putting himself under pressure and then desperately having to sky the ball into the stands.

But the visitors were still looking dangerous and Nicholson came close with a curling shot from the edge of the box which went narrowly wide.

Crawford came close to getting the breakthrough in the 32nd minute after he skilfully rounded Dons defender Derek Whyte in the six yard box.

Next Hibs striker beat Esson with his shot but the ball cannoned off the post and was eventually cleared by the Dons defence.

A minute later Aberdeen sprung into action, hit the post at the other end, this time Cato Gunweit's 25-yard effort unlucky not to end up in the back of the net.

Aberdeen brought on Arild Stavrum for Darren Mackay at the interval and it seemed to give the home side a lift.

Almost from the kick-off they had the visitors pinned in their own area, and within two minutes of the restart Ruitenbeek brought off a great save from an Eoin Jess shot.

Despite their dominance the home side could not breach the Pars defence and the Fifers slowly began to play their way back into the game.

Both sides were going at each other for the winner but it was Aberdeen who came close again in the 71st minute after Chris Clark had done well to reach the by-line.

The youngster's cut back found Robbie Winters eight yards out but, although his strike beat Ruitenbeek, the ball crashed off the bar and away to safety.

As the game drew to a close it appeared Dunfermline were happy enough with a point, although the home side continued to go all out for what would surely have been the winner.

Then out of the blue, on 81 minutes, Dunfermline midfielder David Moss turned and shot from 25 yards only to see Esson finger tip the ball onto the bar and over for a corner.

With three minutes remaining Dunfermline substitute Stephen Hampshire missed a good chance to wrap up the points by blasting past from 12 yards.