Forfar Athletic 1 The Spartans 1

Forfar Athletic managed to hold league leaders Spartans to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at a misty Station Park.

Mackenzie Lemon converted a corner with our only chance of the first 45 to put us ahead, but Cammy Russell’s early second half equaliser levelled things up, with Neil Stafford and some wasteful finishing to thank for the point.

Jim Weir made two changes from the side that were soundly beaten by Stranraer, with captain Stuart Morrison unavailable and Jake Sutherland replaced by Mackenzie Lemon and Nathan Cannon.

Spartans had the first shot of the game after just twenty seconds but a well placed foot blocked the effort from going near Neil Stafford.

Marc McNulty and Cammy Russell combined well in the sixth minute for the former to see his strike pushed across the face of goal and out for a corner.

The visitors were forced into an early sub and they almost reaped the rewards straight away with Murray Aiken seeing his shot tipped over the bar.

The deadlock was broken in the eighteenth minute with our first opportunity; Mackenzie Lemon rising highest to head home a Slater corner.

Spartans looked keen to get back on level terms with former Loons trialist Mark Stowe sending an effort over the bar while Stafford denied him shortly after as he carved out another opportunity.

Jim Weir was also forced into a first half change just after the half hour mark when captain for the day Craig Slater limped off to be replaced by Lewis Lorimer.

The last chance of the half fell to the ever dangerous Stowe, driving inside but he couldn’t keep the ball down and it flew inches over the bar.

The scores were levelled two minutes into the second half: Cammy Russell firing low into the bottom corner.

Mark Stowe could have put the visitors ahead when Spartans broke following a Loons throw in line with the attacking box; the winger found himself one on one but scuffed his shot past the post.

The score somehow stayed level with 20 minutes to go when Stafford did well to make a double save from Nair and McNulty.

Station Park felt Angus Mailer should have been awarded a penalty as the game progressed but the referee waved away appeals.

Deep into injury time Spartans saw another shot deflected wide but the Loons clung on to keep a point after a backs to the wall performance.

This leaves us with one win, against Musselburgh Athletic, in our last seven games and we will look to rectify this on our travels with a KDM Evolution Trophy visit to Cover and league trips to Stirling and Dumbarton up ahead.

Stafford, Martin, Lemon, Allan, Dolzanski, Slater (Lorimer 33), Wark (Christie 60), Mailer, Shepherd, Rennie (Bright 68), Cannon