A point earned against the then league leaders would often be more than welcomed in any campaign, but Forfar Athletic’s 2-2 draw with Ayr United felt more like a loss for the Loons.
Dick Campbell’s side let slip a two-goal lead against their 10-man opposition and that was frustrating for the Forfar boss.
“It does feel a bit like a loss after being two goals ahead at half-time, against a team who look a very good side,” he reflected.
“I was extremely happy at half-time with the way we had played. We started the game really well, we were really comfortable. We got a goal in the first minute and a goal in the last minute of the half.
“But I thought we could have dealt with their goals a lot better. Both goals were very, very soft.”
Forfar keeper Rab Douglas will reflect on how he could have dealt better with both goals after his mistakes cost Forfar dear. But Campbell refused to lay all the blame at his door.
“Big Robert will not be happy with them. I wouldn’t blame him for the goals. I think defensively we could have stopped the crosses and he has kept us in the game at the end with two or three saves. “
Forfar enjoyed the perfect start when they took the lead after just 80 seconds.
Andrew Black hit the byeline and lobbed a high cross into the middle of the six-yard box where Danny Denholm stole in ahead of a defender to stab the ball home.
Forfar suffered an immediate blow, however, when defender Michael Travis went off with what looked a serious injury. He was later taken to hospital for an x-ray for suspected ligament damage.
Two minutes into time added on at the end of the half they doubled their lead through a stunning strike from Iain Campbell. The ball dropped to him fully 30 yards from goal and he lashed home a drooping shot beyond the despairing Greg Fleming.
Ayr dragged themselves back into the game in the 53rd minute after a mistake from Douglas. Andy Graham headed goalwards from 12 yards and Douglas looked to have it covered but flapped at the ball and could only push it into the roof of the net.
Douglas then pulled off a great double stop from Ross Caldwell, just before skipper Nicky Devlin was red-carded for a lunge at Denholm, but the Loons couldn’t hold on as Caldwell fired home an equaliser from six yards.