| Rothes level to remain in touch with Fort |
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Fort William were dealt a pre-match blow with Sean Ellis picking up an injury in the warm up which ruled him out of the game. Richard Finnis came into the starting line up. Meanwhile Rothes were stretched to the limit with manager Graeme McBeath naming himself as their second outfield sub.
The first forty five was, on the whole, fairly uninspiring with neither team posing a genuine threat. The first opening of the game came in the 6th minute when Sam Urquhart fired goalwards from 18 yards but it was taken comfortably by Ricky Horne. At the other end Scott Robison blazed over the bar as Rothes gained their first sight of goal. Fort had a goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper and then Sam Urquhart was fed in by Mark Gillespie but he shot wide from 18 yards as the clock ticked towards the half hour mark. Rothes ended the half with a couple of efforts. Firstly former Fort man Mark Dougal fired a 25 yard free kick straight at John Campbell then Franny More blasted an 18 yard effort high, wide and not very handsomely out of play. Half Time: Fort William 0 Rothes 0 The second half began in slightly livelier fashion. Graham Bamber had a shot from the edge of the box which was comfortably taken by Horne while at the other then John Campbell raced out to dive and save at the feet of Kris Duncan. The game needed a goal and it came for Fort. A corner from the right by Jonathon Hewitt was met perfectly 8 yards out by Mark Gillespie and he bulleted home the opener with just eight minutes on the clock in the second period. Rothes fought back and nearly levelled when Franny More crossed to Kris Duncan whose point blank header was brilliantly blocked by John Campbell. However there was little the keeper could do to stop the visitors equalising on 72 minutes. A cross from the left by Donald Horsburgh was met at the far post by Scott Robison. Rising highest in a crowded area to knock home the leveller and set up an exciting finish. The closest either side came to finding a winner was four mintues from time when a good run by Drew Ferguson culminated in a shot from the edge of the box but it flew wide of the mark.
Full Time Fort William 1 Rothes 1 |