It was another frustrating day at Buffs Park for Kevin Kelly’s side who had to come back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against a Shotts side who are the only team left chasing their first win in the division. The Buffs can take positives from the game after showing good character in the second half to come back and level, but will be very disappointed with the quality of goals conceded in the game.
The Buffs had a great start to the game and could’ve opened the scoring early on when Ryan Wilson ran through on goal. Lawrence Hendry won a Shotts long ball and headed down into the feet of Mark Lamont who took a great touch and dinked a perfectly weighted ball over the top for Wilson. Ryan’s first touch took him slightly wide, but the striker still managed to get a shot away as he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and, unfortunately for The Bufts, onto the top of the crossbar.
Ryan had another chance to score just a couple of minutes later, but this time it would be Sandy Thomson in the Shotts goal who would deny him. Logan Burgess slipped a ball down the right-hand side for MacKintosh who drove inside and squared to Wilson who picked up the ball just inside the box. Ryan shot first-time with the inside of his right foot, aiming his strike towards the bottom left corner where it was well saved by Thomson.
Buffs would be made to rue their early missed chances in the 17th minute when former Buffs man, Marc McKenzie netted the first goal of the game. A free kick was launched forward from well within the Shotts half and evaded all 3 Buffs centre halves, finding the head of Shotts striker, Evans. The forward headed at goal and found the inside of the right post which sent the ball bouncing across the line before it was tapped in by McKenzie.
The next chance of the game came from a Shotts counter-attack as The Buffs went in search of an equaliser. McKenzie received the ball on the halfway line and sprayed a pass out to the right-hand side. The Shotts right winger made good distance up the line before cutting the ball back to Evans on the edge of the box. Evans had McKenzie wide open to his left, however chose to shoot and forced Glen Cameron to make a smart save down low to his right to push the ball wide for a corner.
A series of corners would follow Evans’ effort which would eventually culminate in Shotts doubling their lead through midfielder, Ally Martin. The ball was swung in from the right and with The Buffs failing to clear the ball, it made its way into the centre of the box where Martin was able to finish into the back of the net from close range heading into half-time.
It was a strange first half performance from The Buffs who looked totally deflated for the majority of the half despite such a promising opening 15 minutes to the game. The spark the Buffs needed wouldn’t take long to come after the break, with Ryan Wilson pulling one back just over ten minutes into the second period. A direct ball up the pitch by Cameron was won by Wilson who managed to flick the ball on and into the path of strike partner, Bryan Boylan. Boylan was unable to take control of the ball, with Wilson making the most of Bryan’s poor touch as he ran onto the loose ball and powerfully drove past his man before firing past Thomson and into the right side of the goal.
Chances were few and far between for large parts of the second half however, Ryan Wilson made sure to convert the few second-half chances he had into goals when they came his way. It was the dangerous, Jack Maccalman, long throw which would draw The Buffs level around the 70th minute as he hurled the ball towards the 6-yard box from the right-hand side. The ball caused chaos in the Shotts defence and was eventually hammered home by Ryan who grabbed his second of the game.
Both sides were going for the win in the dying minutes, with the Buffs having the best chance to net a winner late on. A Buffs counter from a Shotts corner would allow Lamont to pick the ball up in space in the middle of the park. Lamont drove forward and slid a pass out to his right to, substitute, Dylan Duncan who ran through on goal and looked destined to complete the comeback and win the game for The Buffs. Unfortunately for Duncan, just as he pulled the trigger and struck the ball goalwards, Robbie Torrance was able to get across and put a brilliant block in to deflect the shot away from danger.
It will probably feel like two points dropped for Kevin Kelly and his side who despite being 0-2 down in the game will feel like they could’ve and should’ve gone on to secure 3 points and earn their first home win of the season. The point leaves The Buffs with 7 points from their first 6 games, currently occupying 9th place in the division. It’s a trip east to Penicuik next week for The Buffs as they enter the Scottish Cup.
