Forfar Albion v East Craigie (report submitted by Stephen Durcan, East Craigie)

This was a bottom versus top encounter at Guthrie Park with hosts Forfar Albion on a 3-match losing run and East Craigie, the league's form side, with a 13-game winning streak which started back in early August. The first outing of 2020 for both clubs and a chance for one to stop the rot or the other to further endorse their championship credentials. Craigie, with 15 different players on the scoresheet this season, had to make do without the most prolific of them all as George Johnston (24 goals in league and cup) was unavailable.

Albion found their feet on the muddy surface the quickest and within 6 minutes had scored the opening goal. Owen Wilson, out on the right, carved an opening for SCOTT BLACK and the striker stabbed home from several yards out. The shellshock was palpable as Craigie struggled to respond. Rory Faulkner did charge like a racehorse down the right and played a ball into the path of Adam Brown but the number seven completely scuffed his shot from close range and the home keeper claimed with ease.

A little better from the Shipbuilders on 17 minutes as sterling work down the right flank by Finlay Baird saw him cross to Faulkner and the striker clipped the outside of the post with a clever shot. A speculative punt from Ross Mcnaughton 40-yards out trickled wide of the Albion post in the 25th minute as Craigie began to dominate possession. Minutes later Paul Moran sent a free kick into the box but Fraser MacLeod nodded wide with a weak header.

On the half hour visiting keeper Liam Dunn did well to keep out an effort from Joe Kidd as the ball looked set to sneak inside the near post. Brown had options seconds later but allowed a posse of home defenders to rush back and the resulting pressure saw the Craigie player lift the ball well over the bar. Albion's defence continued to thwart the league leaders with Moran only being allowed the option of a shot from 30-yards out which rolled well wide.

First half mission accomplished for Forfar leaving East Craigie to ponder how to up their game and turn things around, a situation they have rarely found themselves in this season.

HALF-TIME: Forfar Albion 1 East Craigie 0

It only takes a minute, in this case four minutes, as East Craigie roared back into the game. Great determination from FRASER MACLEOD saw him win the ball in midfield, lose it, then win it back again, advance on goal and drive home the equaliser. Moran nearly put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes but his free kick to the near post was kept out by a great acrobatic save by the home keeper. The persistent Craigie pressure paid off on 59 minutes with MACLEOD picking up a loose ball and firing low under the keeper after an initial shot from Brown had been blocked. That was a quick fire double for MacLeod and took his season's tally to 11.

Both keepers were called into action midway through the half....first Albion custodian Jason Hill pushed over a free-kick  from Moran, then his opposite number palmed away another free-kick, this time from Robbie Gallacher. Forfar had a golden chance to level the scores in the 73rd minute but Andrew Patullo, clean through on goal, hesitated and allowed the backtracking defenders time to crowd him out before he had time to shoot. Seven minutes later Patullo opted to feed the ball to WILSON and his low shot under the keeper did bring the leveller.

Despair for the hosts and jubilation for East Craigie within three minutes as Brown's cross to the near post landed amid a sea of legs and McNAUGHTON reacted well to stab home. 3-2 to the Shipbuilders with the clock ticking away. The defining moment of a hard-fought game came in the 86th minute as Mcnaughton found space and drove a firm shot which rattled the home crossbar. Game over had it gone in but all to play for because it didn't.

Albion, with new-found belief, stormed upfield in a desperate attempt to snatch a point. Gallacher curled an effort towards goal but Dunn smothered his shot well. The frantic hosts threw everything they could at the Craigie back line and deep into injury time they got their reward through the persistence of FRASER STURROCK who netted a last gasp equaliser. A fair result in the end....East Craigie for their greater possession, Forfar Albion for their never-say-die attitude.

FINAL SCORE: Forfar Albion 3 East Craigie 3

FORFAR: Hill, Gallacher, Jones (Alexander 77), Sturrock, Jamieson, Kidd, Penman, Stephen, Black (Crosby 62), Patullo, Wilson. UNUSED: Couttie, McLeish.

EAST CRAIGIE: Dunn, Malone, Moran, Howett (Reekie 46), Brannan, MacLeod, Brown, Mcnaughton, Faulkner, Baird, Christie. UNUSED: McDonald, Garrick, Harkins, Ross.