Forfar Athletic 2 The Spartans 2

Forfar were held to a fourth draw in six league games as the the first ever league meeting between The Spartans and Forfar ends even.

Spartans started quickly and had a shot fizz just wide in the 12th minute when Jamie Dishington tried his luck from range.

Less than a minute later the visitors had another chance when a corner was headed goalward but Marc McCallum clawed the ball away and followed up with another smart stop after some pinball.

The Spartans had the ball in the net in the 23rd minute. McCallum made a wonder stop but couldn’t prevent the follow up effort from being turned home, however the ball was adjudged to have been controlled by the hand of a man in white.

It took until the 25th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it was Forfar who nicked in front despite the Spartans early dominance.

Rory MacLeod led a counter attack down the right and his pass broke on the edge of the box for Seb Ross who made no mistake by rifling in off the underside of the crossbar.

The Loons lead didn’t last for long. A moment of madness from Marc McCallum, who picked up the ball twice, gifted The Spartans an indirect free kick from 12 yards.

The original shot was saved well by McCallum but the rebound was spectacularly scissor kicked in to the back of the net by Spartans player Michael Allan.

The Spartans took a deserved lead in to the break with a 43rd minute goal. Blair Henderson sprung past the defence and lobbed McCallum brilliantly with his first touch.

The Loons, buoyed by two half time substitutes in Darren Whyte and Ryan Paterson, looked like a different side in the second half and took just seven minutes to level the scoring.

Rory MacLeod slotted through Josh Skelly who lashed a ball across goal. The frontman’s cross deflected in via the knee of either Mark Whatley or a number of Spartans defender desperately trying to get back.

The Loons were alive and moments later Kieran Inglis forced a good save from from substitute goalkeeper Jacques Heraghty after a lovely move.

The Loons missed two golden opportunities to find a winner within a minute of each other. First when Paterson was played in behind but couldn’t get hold of his volley on target and it rolled agonisingly wide and then Rory MacLeod was played through but he hesitated and could only force a good save from Heraghty.

Both sides traded offside goals before Forfar thought they had won a penalty when Paterson was scythed down in full flight as he entered the box but the referee decided a free kick on the edge of the box was the right course of action, to the fury of the home fans.

The Athies were pushing for the winner and almsot found it when Roberto Nditi flashed a cross into the box but Mark Whatley couldn’t make contact with the goal gaping.

Another shout for a penalty was turned down as the clock moved towards the 90 when a long throw in balanced on the Spartans captain arm before being cleared however the referee was again unmoved.

Despite an improved second half the Loons were held to the draw and will head to Stranraer in search of their first cinch League Two win of the season next week.