Formartine United and Cove Rangers missed their chance to close the gap at the top of the Press and Journal Highland League table after sharing the honours in a thriller at North Lodge Park.
With league leaders Buckie Thistle drawing at Turriff United and second-placed Brora Rangers being held at Inverurie Locos, it is a case of as you were for the top four sides in the table.
Formartine will be the more frustrated of the two sides after creating more clear-cut chances but United found Cove goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie in fine form.
Formartine scorer Paul Lawson, the man of the match, said: “A draw in the end was a fair result but we had our fair share of the play in the second half.
“Cove took their goal well but it was nice to get back in the game shortly after.
“I have been out for a few months with a knee injury. It has been very frustrating and then, unfortunately, last week’s game was called off but the manager had a plan today. He slotted me in at the back and I think I did all right.”
Former Cove midfielder, Scott Paterson, now assistant manager of Partick Thistle, was an interested spectator ahead of United’s Scottish Cup fourth-round trip to Firhill in a fortnight.
United, who were at full strength, left defender Russell McBride on the bench alongside former Montrose and Ross County centre forward Garry Wood and former Inver-urie Locos frontman Neil Gauld.
Formartine captain Lawson made a welcome return after two months out with a knee injury.
With midfielder Blair Yule and attacker Daniel Park suspended, Cove brought in youngster Sam Burnett and former Keith and Huntly forward Matthew McDonald up front.
Forward Mitch Megginson was only fit enough to take a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Lawson started somewhat surprisingly as sweeper in a back four with former Aberdeen and Dunfermline midfielder Derek Young occupying the right back role.
On the quarter hour mark Conor Gethins wasn’t far away with a swerving 35-yard free kick which flew inches wide of the upright. He again tried his luck from distance but his 25-yard drive sailed high over the crossbar.
In the 26th minute Cove were dealt a blow when former Keith and Aberdeen forward Jonny Smith hobbled off with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring.
Dean Lawrie came on at full back with Stuart Walker pushed forward.
Formartine passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring nine minutes from the break when, with only goalkeeper McKenzie to beat, home full back Stuart Smith headed a deep cross straight at him from six yards.
At the start of the second half Cove moved Walker back into a midfield role with Connor Scully partnering Ryan Stott up front.
On the hour, Gethins really should have broken the deadlock but he shot straight at McKenzie from eight yards in the 62nd minute.
Cove made United pay for that miss 60 seconds later when the champions took the lead.
Stott slipped the ball through to McDonald, who sidestepped his namesake in the Formartine goal and slipped the ball home from a tight angle.
The lead did not last long, however, as two minutes later Formartine were back on level terms when Lawson’s 19-yard free kick flew high past the diving McKenzie.
United piled on the pressure and twice within the space of as many minutes McKenzie came to his side’s rescue with superb saves to deny Gethins and Graeme Rodger.
With three minutes to go substitute Gauld should have scored the winner but he shot wildly over the Cove crossbar from eight yards.
Cove midfielder Grant Campbell said: “It was a very competitive match and a share of the spoils was about right.
“With the top four teams all drawing today nobody lost any ground, and I’m sure everyone would have taken that before a ball had been kicked.”
