In conditions which were not conducive to good football, it was the visitors who began in the more aggressive and confident conjuring up the first chance in the fifth minute.
Good work on the left flank from Jim Patterson saw him swing in a cross which Scott McDonald should have converted, but he headed over from only six yards despite being unmarked.
And with Well in full flow, the little Australian striker fired wide from 20 yards five minutes later as the United defence stood back like spectators.
But gradually, the Tangerines edged their way into the game and after passing a number of chances it was no surprise that they took the lead in the 28th minute.
A Sean Dillon cross was headed towards goal by Jon Daly and despite the efforts of two defenders, Steve Robb was on hand to nip in to nod the ball in from three yards.
It was no more than United deserved but some schoolboy defending eight minutes later brought an unlikely equaliser. A needless foul by Christian Kalvenes on Dave Clarkson saw Danny Murphy step up and hit a low 18-yard free-kick right through United's defensive wall.
It was a similar pattern in the second period as United pressed with David McCracken and Lee Wilkie coming very close with headers around the hour mark.
Despite this, a Clarkson curling shot in the 73rd minute tested Derek Stillie who did well to hold on. Immediately the Tangerines zipped to the other end and Stillie did well to hold Noel Hunt's header as he latched onto Barry Robson's cross.
The Steelmen were playing a game of cat and mouse and they almost grabbed the lead when the busy McDonald left Dillon standing and blasted over from 12 yards.
The officials hit some controversy in the 75th minute when they firstly awarded then disallowed McDonald's 14-yard strike. The stand side official gave the goal, however after consultation with the referee, the goal was then disallowed.
And more controversy arrived in the 84th minute when some handbags between Hunt and Paul Quinn was punished with two yellow cards and the latter taking an early bath for his second caution.