Jason Brown insists that Peterhead will take spirit from a battling point against Airdrieonians, despite the disappointment of conceding a late leveller.
Brown rose unmarked to nod in Julien Carre’s corner just after the half-hour mark and it looked as if the Blue Toon were set for their first away victory of the season.
Jim McInally’s side defended brilliantly as the hosts dominated the second half, though with two minutes remaining, Lewis Jamieson angled a shot beyond Tom Ritchie to level.
“It’s a bit of a sickener but I don’t think our effort or performance can be faulted,” Brown said.
“Nobody probably gave us a chance coming here. That’s been the story of our season – we haven’t really felt like we’ve got started.
“We know with the boys we’ve got here, that if we keep putting together performances like that, then we should start picking up more points and hopefully start climbing the table.
“It has been a tough couple of months for us – as a group we haven’t been good enough and taken that responsibility.”
🎥 | The goals from today's cinch League 1 match against Peterhead. Full DiamondsTV highlights will follow tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/iBRcML8yQX
— Airdrieonians FC (@AirdrieoniansFC) November 13, 2022
Peterhead made a bright start and Michael Hewitt passed up a good opportunity to break the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes before Ryan Dow was denied by the offside flag when he turned home Carre’s free kick.
The opening goal came on 33 minutes and 60 seconds later, it should have been 2-0 – Hewitt beat Dean Lyness in the home goal to the ball but his effort struck the foot of the post.
It meant that the visitors went into half-time thoroughly deserving of their lead, and despite having to soak up waves of Airdrie attacks following the restart, Ritchie was rarely troubled in the second half.
“We asked the goalie in the dressing room how many saves he had to make, I don’t think he had to make one apart from picking the ball out the back of his net,” Brown added.
“I was in line with the goal we had one ruled out in the first half and would like to see that one back, it was really close.”
Peterhead assistant boss Davie Nicholls was frustrated at the decision not to award his side a penalty at the Excelsior Stadium.
Lyness in the Airdrie goal appeared to clean out Hewitt inside the area, but the referee waved away the appeals from those in blue.
Your #BlueToon starting XI for today's @cinchuk League 1 meeting with @AirdrieoniansFC!#BlueToon 🔵⚪️💙 pic.twitter.com/nvNBon9xtI
— Peterhead FC (@pfcofficial) November 12, 2022
The Balmoor side remain bottom of League One, a point adrift of Clyde who were pegged back from 2-0 up to eventually settle for a draw against Dunfermline.
“I don’t how the referee has missed it, it was a stonewall penalty – the goalkeeper doesn’t know where the ball is and he’s cleaned Michael Hewitt out,” Nicholls said.
“At the end of the day, we’re delighted to get a point, the lads battled and fought for each other and that’s really pleasing.
“Looking at the side now, it’s the strongest it has ever been with the players we’ve got back.
“Andy McCarthy is back, Andy McDonald too, while wee Julien Carre is getting to know the game better – I thought against Airdrie he was exceptional.”
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