Forfar Athletic 1 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 1

(Ferguson 76’) (Hunter 90’+3’)

A last-minute sucker punch prevented Forfar from hauling themselves off the bottom of the cinch league 2 table in new manager Ray McKinnon’s first game in charge.

It was a draw which the boss Ray McKinnon admitted felt like a defeat; still, the disappointment at the point is cause for optimism.

Forfar controlled the first half, without creating a barrage of chances. Matty Aitken first passed up the opportunity to shoot when through on goal before having a header cleared off the line by a Rose defender in the only two real flashpoints of the opening 45, although Craig Slater twice stung the palms of home goalkeeper Mark Andrews.

There would be far more action in the second half. Roberto Nditi forced a strong save from Andrews, Josh Jack’s deflected follow-up looked to some to have flung past Andrews but the angle deceived those in the main stand and the ball went behind.

The first goal of the Ray McKinnon era would come 15 minutes from time in spectacular fashion. Stef McCluskey evaded at least three tackles on the halfway line before driving forward and finding his captain. Slater skipped past his man and prodded for Jaden Ferguson with the Hearts loanee skinning his man with his first touch and using his second to slot into the corner.

Ferguson almost added to his first Forfar goal five minutes from time but he fired a well-struck volley agonisingly wide of the post.

The Athies looked to be comfortably seeing out the victory, moving into seventh place and indeed sitting only five points behind fourth-place Elgin until Rose’s late onslaught finally bore fruit in the final minute of injury time.
The blue backline had dealt with a number of crosses but the visitors were finally able to find space in the box and George Hunter made no mistake by swivelling and firing into the top corner.

The late goal was a blow to the lads who had put so much into the game and Albion Rovers' even later winner in Methil means the Loons sit two points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Hopefully, for all concerned that position is only temporary and as the gaffer put it we can ’start climbing up the league.’

Ray now takes his side to face top-of-the-league Dumbarton at the Rock next week, in what will be another tough 90 minutes for Craig and the team.