Late equaliser for Annan

Jan 19 2011 By Kieran Westbrook

AN INJURY time equaliser from super sub Neil MacFarlane earned 10-man Annan a vital point against play-off rivals Elgin City at Galabank.

An incredible Jason Crooks brace direct from the corner spot kept Annan on the backfoot for most of the match.

But goals from Bryan Gilfillan and MacFarlane gave Annan an important draw.

Ferocious winds stopped an early Craig Summersgill clearance from passing the edge of his box and it was forced out for a corner.

Elgin opened the scoring on the third minute when a Jason Crooks corner was sent straight into the Annan net.

Gilfillan got the Galabankies back on level terms after six minutes when his 25-yard drive swirled through the air, deceiving Donnelly and hitting the back on the net.

Annan were struggling to cope with the wind and Elgin were taking advantage.

Another Crooks corner was only kept out by the fists of Summersgill as he rose above Elgin's forwards.

Elgin retook the lead directly from another Crooks corner. This time the ball hit the inside of the far post giving City a 2-1 lead in the 11th minute.

Sean O'Connor nearly opened his account with a classy Annan move.

Ian Harty played O'Connor through, who took the ball past one defender before firing the ball goalwards.

A desperate Muirhead dived in to prevent the clearance from Kaczan, felling the defender and earning him a booking.

But Paul Kaczan got a boot to the ball, blocking its path to goal.

O'Donoughue nearly found Elgin's third on the half hour mark with a rasping strike from 30 yards, but it sailed narrowly over the Annan bar.

The Galabankies were reduced to 10 men in the 36th minute when Muirhead was sent off.

The Annan fullback slid in late on Frizzel. It didn't look a malicious challenge as he slid on the sodden grass, but it was a deserved second bookable offence.

Macbeth was first to test Donnelly in the second half. He darted through a gap in the middle and fired a shot at the Elgin goal. But it was well held.

The Galabankies were pressing for a goal as Elgin sat in, hoping to hold on to their lead.

O'Connor floated in a ball from the left after a great MacFarlane pass. But Gilfillan had checked his run and the chance went begging.

Captain Kevin Neilson headed the ball home from an Andy Aitken freekick, but it was ruled out as offside.

Hope was fading as the match went into its fourth minute of injury time, before MacFarlane grabbed a late equaliser for Annan, bundling in a shot from a corner.

The full-time whistle blew and Annan earned a well-deserved and vital point.

Super sub Neil MacFarlane said: "It was great to come on and get the goal, but the most important thing is getting the draw. We were pushing for the goal and I felt we deserved it."

Annan gaffer Harry Cairney said: "I think we deserved a point from our second half performance. Our guys battled hard and their keeper made a few good saves. I'm just delighted with the effort."