St Mirren and Falkirk shared the points in a Clydesdale Bank Premier League stalemate that was only briefly interrupted in the early stages of the second half.
Each goalkeeper had one real save to make in the first half but they were both beaten within four minutes of the restart.
Graham Barrett headed Falkirk ahead but Billy Mehmet's penalty soon levelled after Kevin McBride handled in the box and neither team could force a winner.
Both sides were unchanged after getting their first SPL victories of the season the previous week, but the absence of a finishing touch on display showed why those opening wins were delayed.
Falkirk dominated early possession but St Mirren soon threatened twice from a more direct approach.
Jim Hamilton hooked a difficult volley just wide following a Mehmet knockdown on the edge of the box, before his header from a Franco Miranda free-kick was pushed wide by Robert Olejnik.
Falkirk's first chance came in the 19th minute when Scott Arfield beat Mark Howard to Thomas Scobie's near-post cross following slack defending at a throw-in, but his header flashed over.
St Mirren soon put Falkirk under pressure from another free-kick into the box, with Will Haining glancing Andy Dorman's delivery just wide.
The hosts continued to enjoy the upper hand and Steven Robb and Miranda combined well down the left before the Argentinian sent in a cross towards Mehmet, but the big striker could not turn it beyond the near post.
Falkirk came back into the game but they lacked direction, although Michael Higdon warmed Howard's hands with a snapshot on the turn from the corner of the box.
Arfield also came close again from a header in the dying seconds when he raced on to Jackie McNamara's cross but glanced the ball just past the far post.
The visitors took just 90 seconds of the second half to break the stalemate when Barrett finished off a fine move. McBride fed Neil McCann on the left wing and his cross was skilfully headed home by the Irishman.
However, St Mirren levelled two minutes later when Mehmet stroked home a penalty after McBride handled in the area.
The midfielder's arm had been raised as he challenged Miranda at the far post following Robb's free-kick and referee Euan Norris pointed to the spot.
Both sides were showing more urgency going forward and Burton O'Brien flashed a shot over under pressure after Higdon headed down Scobbie's cross.
Olejnik almost handed St Mirren another goal when he threw the ball straight to Dorman 30 yards out, but the Saints midfielder could not get enough height on his chip, which the backtracking Falkirk keeper gratefully caught.
Norris enraged Saints boss Gus MacPherson by failing to play a good advantage for the second time - blowing up for a foul on Mehmet as Dorman chased Hamilton's through ball.
Lee Bullen then saved the visitors by blocking Hamilton's shot after a long throw before Arfield lobbed over at the other end after latching on to another knockdown.
Hamilton was fortunate not to be booked for his theatrical fall as Olejnik came out to challenge him on the edge of his six-yard box, with Norris giving a goal-kick.
The striker forced the Falkirk keeper into a diving save from another 18-yard volley before he and Mehmet made way for Craig Dargo and Dennis Wyness.
Saints had the upper hand in the closing stages but could not carve out a chance and Scobbie threatened to snatch a win with a powerful long-range strike that Howard bundled wide.
Teams:
St Mirren Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Mason,Brady, Dorman, Robb (McGinn 66), Hamilton (Dargo 76),Mehmet (Wyness 83).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Murray, McAusland, Cuthbert.
Booked: Dargo.
Goals: Mehmet 50 pen.
Falkirk Olejnik, McNamara, Barr, Bullen, Scobbie, Arfield,McBride, O'Brien, McCann, Barrett (Lovell 64), Higdon.
Subs Not Used: Flinders, Cregg, Aafjes, Mark Stewart,
McCaffrey, Lynch.
Booked: Barr, McBride.
Goals: Barrett 47.
Att: 4,134
Ref: E Norris (Scotland).