Annan Athletic 0 - 0 Peterhead: Peterhead hold on after late red card

By ANTHONY BROWN
Published on 30/01/2013 00:06

Annan were unable to give new manager Jim Chapman a winning start as Peterhead dug deep to earn a point despite the late dismissal of defender Ross Smith.

The stalemate leaves the Galabank side in sixth place, three points adrift of fourth-placed Peterhead in the battle for the play-offs.

Annan started well with both Michael Daly and David Hopkirk spurning golden chances early on. Peterhead, playing against the wind, were barely able to get out their own half in the first half, but, six minutes after the interval, they registered their first shot on goal when former Annan forward David Cox flashed an angled strike inches past the far post from 20 yards out.

Peterhead were awarded an indirect free kick on the hour when Alex Mitchell picked up a passback, but the Annan keeper made amends by tipping Cox’s strike over the bar. From the corner, Smith headed against the crossbar and, just a minute later, Jamie Redman saw a header tipped wide by Mitchell as the visitors enjoyed a sustained period of pressure.

The visitors were dealt a blow with eight minutes left when Smith was sent off for a last-man foul on Hopkirk, but they held out for a point.

Annan Athletic: Mitchell, Blake, Monaghan, Swinglehurst, Jardine (McNiff 11), Love (Murray 80), Chaplain, Hopkirk, Daly, Sloan. Unused subs: J Watson, McKechnie, Summersgill.

Peterhead: Smith, McCann, Noble, S Ross (Tully 87), Smith, Cowie, Cox, Redman, Rodgers, Bavidge, Maguire (Winters 83). Unused subs: Fitzgerald, D Ross.

Referee: B Colvin.

Attendance: 309.