For the second year in a a row Forres Mechanics came away from Allan Park having earned a deserving point but this time it was coming from behind with late substitute Ricky Wardrop doing the honours in the last minute of the game

Champions Cove Rangers had set themselves up for another three points on their home patch with a gpal in the second minute. Barrie Stephen's vicious corner from the left saw Martin Johnston outpower Stewart Knight in the jump and when the ball broke loose to ground Eric Watson could not believe his luck. The big centre back reacted as the Forres defence reacted slowly and with his left foot from the edge of the six yard box tucked the ball inside Knight's left corner

A great rangy run from Stephen from inside his own half saw him outpace a number of players but he tried to overelaborate when getting right to the bye line and just failed to get the flag kick. Then Neil Cruickshank took a quick throw in, Johnston head flicking on for Murray McCulloch to volley narrowly wide

There was a shock for the home side when their visitors drew level with effectively attack number one. Kevin Duguid threaded through an incisive pass for Kenny Hendry to latch onto. Lee Windrum was late with his challenge conceding a penalty for which he got a yellow. Simon Allan was a model of composure as he rifled the ball high past the Northern Irish keeper

Home boss John Sheran and his colleagues in the dugout were incensed when Jamie Watt appeared to have earned a spot kick at the other end, getting away from Nathan Sharp and with claims he was hauled back in the ensuing melee

A cross from the left came to an alert Hendry who got a good head to it but Windrum was alert and took well

However it was Cove back on the attack with two chances in good succession. Firstly Dean Lawrie's speculative effort from deep came off the top of the crossbar, then a rare Richie Livingstone right footer trickled wide

A spate of bookings for away players ensued but there shouts for greater punishment when Kenny Hendry went in very clumsily on Windrum while at the other end Stephen ran through defenders again, this time on the right but he angled his parting shot inches away

Early after the restart, Murray McCulloch fired in a shot on target but it was probably not going to be good enough to beat Knight but in any case the ball deflected off Watt and went flying away

It was shaping up to be a real ding dong affair with Hendry's diagonal pass releasing Neil Whyte to take on the bounce first time and send the ball just over the top

Cove went 2-1 up in 53 minutes. Again it was an untidy challenge, this time on Watt which earned the free kick on the edge of the box. Ritchie Livingstone stepped up and fired the ball low past Knight into his right corner

The Can Cans were not to be outdone Ryan Green trying a powerful shot then a deflected attempt almost getting the better of an off balance Windrum who was then to find himself busier in the latter stages he'd have wanted saving a long range drive from Whyte

The Toonsers eased the pressure on their busy defence, Lawrie sweeping a David Smith cross over then hitting a shot with his left foot well wide.

There seemed to be no way the game could end without further goals and that's what's happened. Ricky Wardrop, on for the hard working Green read a long throw well and followed the ball right to the six yard box somehow poking the ball past Windrum for a deserved leveller

Final Score Cove Rangers 2 Forres Mechanics 2
Reporter John Innes