Spoils shared in derby, again

ANNAN made it nine draws in League Two for the season so far after they shared the spoils with Stranraer in a goalless encounter at Stair Park last Saturday.

The first big chance came in favour of the hosts. Dominic Plank cut inside from the left before firing low and hard with the right foot from 25 yards. The ball rolled agonisingly wide of the upright.

At the other end Wullie Gibson played a clever ball through for Josh Dixon, but there were no takers for the midfielder’s cut back.

Stranraer had another chance early in the second half. James Dolan volleyed wide from just inside the area after Deryn Lang teed up his teammate.

And after Cammy Clark gave away the ball cheaply, the Blues had another opportunity.

But Plank was unable to give his side the lead as Athletic defender Scott Hooper dived in front of his strike.

Annan came close when Tommy Muir’s header, from a Gibson corner had to be cleared off the line by Daniel McManus.

And Paul Smith failed to beat the Stranraer wall from 18 yards after Joel Mumbongo won a free kick right on the edge of the area.

Blues sub Corey O’Donnell stretched a leg out to direct Evan Dunne’s off target attempt goalwards, but Albinson got down to gather.

Tempers flared near the end following a late challenge by Kirk McKnight on Annan midfielder Paul McGowan.

Referee Daniel Graves showed yellow cards to Stranraer’s Dunne and McKnight and Annan’s Keith Watson and Gibson.

The best chance of the game then arrived for the visitors in the final moments.

Aidan Smith’s free kick was glanced on by Hooper and Mumbongo, with a split second to react, directed the ball wide. He fell to the floor with his head in his hands.