Report

It was honours even in the cross-Tay derby this afternoon and for the second successive match Scone were to take a half time lead only to be undone by a late penalty.

Prior to kick off there was a welcome boost for the Jags when Abi Njie, who it had been feared would miss the rest of the campaign after dislocating a shoulder back at the start of February, was passed fit to feature on the subs bench.

Luncarty started brightly and forced the first chance after only two minutes when a long throw from the right into the Scone box was only partially cleared and when the loose ball was collected by former Scone striker Richard Doig his first time effort from outside the box was easily collected by Gorton in the Scone goal.

Scone had the next chance but were to wait a further 23 minutes for it to arrive as the game settled into a close tactical battle in midfield.   The ball was played up the right wing to Mackay and when his cross came into the middle it was flicked on by Strachan to Sinclair, playing today at left midfield in the place of the injured Gary Fergus.  Sinclair’s cross into the centre was partially blocked high into the air by the Luncarty defence and when the ball fell to earth Fergus was able to get on the end of it but his first time effort with back to goal went wide of target.

Scone were however to take the lead moments later.  Awarded a free kick some 35 yards from goal, a great delivery from Sinclair saw Craig Mitchell get on the end of the ball to loop a powerful header over Luncarty keeper Duncan Bruce and into the back of the net.

The visitor’s attack had a familiar look for the Farquharson Park crowd with both strikers having plied their game at the Jags home ground as joining Doig in attack was Ross Mitchell and Mitchell was to be involved in the game’s next talking point as the visitors had a shout for a penalty turned down.

The ball was worked up the left touchline by the Luncarty midfield before being squared into Mitchell and when he turned goalwards his run appeared to be impeded by Whitworth, however the referee awarded Scone a goalkick.

Scone had the next chance after 43 minutes when a quick counter attack was launched by Moon from the Scone half of the pitch.  He moved the ball forward to Fergus and when his forward pass was blocked the loose ball was chipped forward by Strachan to Mills.  The Scone striker managed to flick the ball past Duncan but it had travelled slightly too far wide of goal and Mills couldn’t get his left foot effort on target.

Doig then had a close range header saved comfortably by Gorton before seeing an effort fly wide of goal before the break.

With just two minutes gone of the second period Ross Mitchell came close for the visitors with an off target effort before Scone had their own good shout for a penalty.

A long ball forward to Mills saw him break into the box challenged by two Luncarty defenders and as he moved forward his run appeared to be impeded by a tug on the shirt, the referee allowed play to continue as the ball broke back to Duncan.  He mistimed his kick on the ball which broke sideways towards goal and as Mills continued his run to collect the ball Duncan appeared to bodycheck the Scone player.  The referee decided, however, to award a free kick to Luncarty much to the puzzlement of the home support and players.

Craig Mitchell saw an effort over the bar for the hosts before, with only 13 minutes left on the clock, Scone had a chance to extend their lead.    A free kick from about 40 yards out on the right was swung into the Luncarty box by Sinclair and when Mills headed back across goal from the far post MacKenzie headed over the bar from a couple of yards out.

Scone were to regret this miss as the visitors were to be awarded a penalty moments later.

Awarded a free kick some 35 yards from goal, Luncarty took a quick free kick which caught Mackay out of position and as he tried to get back to challenge the run of a Luncarty attacker into the box he collided with his opposite number at the expense of the spot kick.

Up stepped Doig to make no mistake from 12 yards.

Gorton had to look lively to make a good save from a headed Luncarty attack to keep the scores level before in the dying moments came the moment Jags fans had feared they wouldn’t see again this season when Abi Njie took to the field as a late replacement for the hard working Fraser Mills.  It was great to see Abi back on the field in red and black.

There was just time in added time for Luncarty to be reduced to 10 men when Reid picked up his second yellow card of the match but after waiting 10 months for the Jags to draw a game that’s been two draws in two weeks.