The latest of late equalisers in Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at Glebe Park means Angus rivals Brechin and Forfar must do it all again in a replay at Station Park a week on Tuesday.
This fourth round tie had everything including three red cards, five bookings and a hat-trick of penalty claims by Brechin turned down.
Forfar’s Stuart Malcolm was shown a straight red after just seven minutes for chopping down Derek Carcary.
Alan Trouten appeared to have been brought down by keeper Rab Douglas six minutes later, but the referee booked the Brechin man for diving.
Brechin were also reduced to 10 men on 33 minutes when Ewan Moyes brought down Chris Templeman as he broke clear. The big Forfar striker went close just before half-time when his header was cleared off the line by Johnny Brown.
Brechin broke the deadlock on 53 minutes when Trouten tapped home a Carcary cutback.
Steven Jackson cleared a Jamie McLuskey long range effort off the Brechin line on 61 minutes and, nine minutes later, Brechin had another penalty claim turned down when Trouten tangled with Gary Fusco.
Forfar pressed to get back on terms and six minutes from time Graeme Smith saved a Gavin Swankie header. Deep into stoppage-time, Trouten tumbled in another challenge with Douglas, but again the referee said no penalty.
Forfar swept to the other end and were awarded a disputed free-kick and Martyn Fotheringahm scored with the aid of a deflection. Mark Baxter of Forfar was then sent off for a gesture in celebrating the goal.
Brechin boss Ray McKinnon said: “I am disappointed not to be in the next round, but the replay will be a cracker.
“I am pleased with our performance. We created plenty of chances, but we will need to work even harder to get a result next week.
“I am disappointed with the award of a free-kick to them right at the end. We had three penalty claims turned down, then they get a soft free-kick and score with a deflection.
“Rab Douglas could well have been sent off early on. It was a big call for the referee and I would have expected him to be stronger.”
Forfar gaffer Dick Campbell said: “The game had everything. I would argue whether Malcolm deserved to be sent off, although Raymond would probably say he did.
“I think the referee got the big decisions right. He is closest to the play and it does not matter what we think on the sidelines.
“Brechin will be gutted at going so close. They created a few chances, but no more than we did. We are still in the cup and we now take them on at our own ground.
“Mark Baxter will be disciplined, but I would have hoped the referee might have shown a bit of common sense as we had just scored an equaliser in the 94th minute.”