Forfar's point made in finale

THE Third Division will of course admit two new entrants come August but whether either of this pair will be around to welcome Peterhead and Elgin remains to be seen.

League reconstruction means three teams will be promoted from the basement and both East Fife and Forfar have a decent chance of being among them. Queens Park remain leaders despite their faltering form but the congestion behind them is building.

This draw doesn't unduly harm the prospects of either. Forfar have still lost only three games this season while East Fife remain in a favourable position in the leading pack.

It was perhaps inevitable that Forfar were first foots at New Bay View as the stadium saw action for the first time in seven weeks. East Fife and Forfar, relegated together last term, have met frequently of late and this was the fifth time Ian McPhee had brought his troops to the seaside in only 14 months.

This venue may have escaped the frost which ravaged the football card further west, but its proximity to the First of Forth makes it a bracing place to spend an afternoon nonetheless.

The match itself, always keenly contested, latterly developed into a reasonably entertaining affair as the game became more open in the second half.

East Fife, with new assistant manager John Reilly cajoling his side from the touchline, went ahead in just six minutes. Graham Robertson was allowed space to surge forward from midfield and he knocked the ball wide to David McInally on the left. The 18-year- old, on loan from Raith Rovers, returned it to the middle where Robertson struck a low shot beyond Stuart Garden for his fifth goal of the season.

Thereafter Forfar dominated the first half with Barry Robson, on loan from Inverness, instrumental in most of their attacks. The best chance fell to another Barry, McLean, who combined with Steven Milne in 21 minutes before driving a shot straight at Willie McCulloch.

Milne, the division's top scorer was well shackled by a robust home defence but Forfar's overall performance merited a draw. When Andy Cargill, then substitute Ralph Brand passed up good second half chances, it seemed as if their luck was out.

But in the final minute the visitors were awarded a penalty. Alex Taylor hit a thunderous 30-yard free kick which McCulloch could only parry and in attempting to gather the rebound George Johnstone was bundled over by Stuart Mckay. Dougie Craig made no mistake from 12 yards.

That left East Fife to rue a moment in the 79th minute when a piece of skill from Barrie Moffat saw him scrape the post with a spectacular volley. But the result was about right. East Fife 1 Forfar Athletic 1

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