Ten-man Forres Thistle rescue a draw against North Region Junior League Division 2 leaders Rothie Rovers after goalkeeper Dan Mcleod sees red
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A RED card for goalkeeper Dan Mcleod didn't stop Forres Thistle from rescuing a point at leaders Rothie Rovers on Saturday.
Jags are the only team to beat the league newcomers this season and took more points off them thanks to Brandon Hutcheson's last-gasp equaliser.
After torrential rain there was huge doubt over the Division 2 game going ahead, but the hard work of home volunteers helped the pitch pass an inspection.
Forres started the game on the front foot with Neil Moir flashing a corner that had the keeper scrambling after only two minutes.
Charlie Beck was next to have a go when his 25-yard shot just whistled by the post.
With both teams enjoying possession there was a high intensity and real quality as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end.
Forres keeper Mcleod quickly raced out his box to block a Jake Stewart attempt when he was played through and beat the defence but the keeper stood tall to keep it at 0-0.
Rothie took the lead after 24 minutes despite Thistle having the better of the game.
Stewart took possession of a throw in and turned to let fly from 25 yards and found the top left-hand corner leaving Mcleod with no chance.
Forres carried on with Ricky Wardrop, Ross Paterson and Moir all going close and the pressure paid off when a corner failed to clear and Scott Campbell managed to stab the ball home from 15 yards out for his first goal for the club.
Just before the stroke of half time Rothie found themselves ahead.
A long ball was flicked on but the ball stopped in the muddy box, Mcleod unable to gain traction as he too was stuck in the mud and the onrushing Gavin Smart managed to ghost in and prod the ball home.
With the second half under way Forres should have taken the lead on the hour mark, Beck whipped the ball in and Sean McIntosh glanced his header just wide.
Rothie then went up the other end and should have extended the lead. A ball was drilled across the six-yard box evading everyone and the striker at the back post couldn't set his feet and ended up missing the ball completely to let Forres off the hook.
Forres player manager Tony Ross had a gilt-edged chance, from the corner he had a free header ten yards out but fired it back across goal and it just went wide.
When Jags seemed to lose a bit of belief and Rothie started controlling the game a bit more the game turned on its head again.
A long ball over the top wasn't dealt with by Callum Gemmell and Mcleod rushed out to punch it clear. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper wiped out the on rushing striker and was given a straight red and a penalty was awarded to Rovers.
Neil Owen went in goals and Jake Stewart stepped up but he rattled the post and Owen made a fine save from the rebound to keep the deficit to one.
Thistle, now galvanised and hungry, had one final corner in the dying seconds.
Beck drilled it in and Hutcheson popped over the defender's shoulder and smashed a header home to give the away side a deserved equaliser.
Rothie had one final half chance from kick off but Owen again proved to be a safe pair of hands in the Forres goal and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
