It was a game which only came to life after the visitors had taken the lead and United had realised they were in grave danger of losing to the bottom placed club.
United were lucky in the 21st minute when Jim Paterson's cross was left by both David McCracken and Derek Stillie, but astonishingly missed by Richie Foran at the far post.
Four minutes later Christian Kalvenes missed a similar chance with a free header, then Barry Robson saw Colin Meldrum block his 22-yard thunderbolt.
Robson blasted in a screamer in the 57th minute which Meldrum tipped over with difficulty then two minutes later the same player flashed another drive just wide.
But it was the visitors who took the lead on the hour with a scrambled goal from Calum Elliot. The sub had only been on the park for a minute when he latched onto a Scott McDonald shot which Stillie did well to block.
The lead only lasted four minutes when Noel Hunt equalised. Ghosting in, he was on the end of Stuart Duff's by-line cross, giving Meldrum no chance.