Aberdeen came from a goal behind to take a 2-1 half time lead over Dunfermline at East End Park.

Stevie Crawford had given the home side the lead in the 14th minute, but Dons midfielder David Rowson equalised in 57 minutes.

The game looked to be heading to the break level when Andy Dow popped up with a tremendous strike to put the Dons ahead.

There were two pre-match pitch inspections before referee Garry Mitchell allowed the game to go ahead with freezing fog and ice at East End Park.

And there was little excitement to heat the fans up in the early stages as both sides took time to adjust to the adverse weather conditions.

The first attempt on goal came from Aberdeen's Alex di Rocco in the eighth minute after he cut out a slack Ian Ferguson pass at the edge of the Dunfermline box.

But the Frenchman's strike was far too hurried and Pars keeper Marco Ruitenbeek saved easily. Two minutes later at the other end Scott Thomson's header from a Barrie Nicholson corner was blocked on the line by Aberdeen midfielder Derek Young.

Dunfermline began to press and from another Nicholson corner Andrius Skerla's net-bound header from 14 yards was blocked by Aberdeen defender Derek Whyte.

It was the home side who took the lead in the 14th minute with a simple goal. Crawford beat the Dons' off-side trap, racing onto a Steven Hampshire pass to coolly slot past keeper Ryan Esson from 10 yards.

Aberdeen tried desperately to battle their way back into the game and nearly got an equaliser in the 20th minute.

Midfielder Young picked up a loose ball 35 yards out and drove a glorious shot which just over the bar.

Conditions began to worsen as the visitors forced a series of corners, ending with Dow blasting over from the edge of the box.

Aberdeen continued to live dangerously, playing the offside trap, and on a couple of occasions Crawford came close to breaching it.

But the visitors eventually got a deserved equaliser in 37 minutes after good work by Arild Stavrum on the edge of the Dunfermline box.

The Norwegian laid the ball off to Rowson who gave Ruitenbeek no chance with a low shot from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Crawford nearly restored the lead. His lob from the edge of the box beat Esson but was inches wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Dow gave the visitors the lead two minutes before the break. The midfielder worked a nice free-kick with Young before driving the ball past Ruitenbeek.