Forres Thistle land priceless North of Scotland League point after Paul MacLeod header while Deveronside see off New Elgin
Forres Thistle earned a priceless point in a thrilling match which had a saved penalty, two red cards and two stoppage time goals.
Former Nairn County and Rothes defender Paul MacLeod’s header in the fifth minute of added time landed Jags a 2-2 draw with Stoneywood Parkvale in the North of Scotland League Championship.
The Aberdeen side looked to have stolen victory with a 91st minute goal, before MacLeod’s even later intervention.
Jags had to battle through half of Saturday’s contest a man short following Benji Chapman’s dismissal for stopping a goalbound Vale strike with his hand, but keeper Rian Wilson saved the spot kick.
New signing Kai Smith had an early shot saved for the home team but on four minutes they took the lead when Liam Robinson headed home from a corner.
Ten minutes later, Vale’s Martyn Paul wriggled clear in the box and fired home an equaliser.
Robinson had another Forres header saved, but there was drama in time added on at the end of the first half.
A goalbound Forres effort was punched over the bar by defender Chapman and he was shown a straight red card, but Wilson was equal to the resulting penalty kick and kept his team on level terms at the break.
Chances were limited for much of the second half with Ricky Wardrop forcing a good save from the Vale keeper, while Stoneywood Parkvale fired a clear opening into the side netting with ten minutes left of regulation time.
Forres hearts were hurting in the 91st minute when it looked like the away side had stolen victory. Findlay Masson’s 25-yard blast was spilled by Wilson and Curtis Kane nipped in to convert the loose ball and put the Aberdonians ahead for the first time.
Jags’ ten men refused to give in and when sub Ciaran Stone’s free kick was cleared back to him on the left, he lofted it to the back post where MacLeod rose to loop a superb header back across the keeper and inside the post for a dramatic leveller.
It got even worse for the home team when they had sub Martyn Duthie red-carded for dissent.
Forres’ thrilling equaliser kept them ahead of the bottom two places, with basement duo Dufftown and Cruden Bay fighting out a 1-1 draw on Saturday to maintain the positions.
Dufftown, who have been unfortunate not to pick up points in recent games, hit the post through Richie Tawse then conceded before half time against the run of play.
The second half saw the Toonsers rise to the occasion, with Ryan Morrison prominent in some of their many attacks.
Morrison was unlucky on several occasions not to score, but his corner led to Logan Grant heading in Dufftown’s equaliser.
The home side just couldn’t find a winner despite constant pressure. two saves denied Jack Craib and Scott Bowie had a header cleared off the line.
Jake Logan was twice denied as Dufftown threw everything but the kitchen sink at their Buchan visitors, who clung on for a point.
Deveronside produced one of the results of the day against New Elgin, winning 5-0.
Joel Wiseman netted twice, Kyle Buxton, Ryan Catto and Nicol Park also on target for the Banffshire hosts.
In the Premier League, Lossiemouth United were defeated by Stonehaven for the second weekend running.
The teams met a week earlier in the Grill Cup with Stonehaven enjoying a 1-0 success and the scoreline was repeated at Phoenix Park on league matters.
Islavale lost 4-1 at Ellon United despite taking an early lead.
Former Keith striker Gavin Elphinstone capitalised on a defensive error to fire Vale in front after six minutes.
Vale pushed hard after that and were unlucky not to increase their advantage before Ellon levelled on the half hour mark, and edged ahead two minutes later before going on to take control.
Burghead lost 4-1 at home to Banchory, while Whitehills continued their superb run with a 1-0 win over Glentanar with Jordan Tallis getting the goal.
Whitehills are the only the Moray and Banffshire club to reach the last eight of the Grill Cup and have earned an away draw at Stonehaven.