Albert grab draw in the last minute
Penalty in dying seconds secures point
Lanark Utd .......... 2 Royal Albert ....... 2 Royal Albert roared back after conceding an early lead to snatch a 2-2 draw with Lanark United from a dodgy penalty seconds from time.
It was a valuable point the Stonehouse-based side deserved against a Lanark side that hit rock bottom form for most of the game.
Albert started smartly when Liam O’kane snapped up a halfchance to steer the ball home to create a seventh minute lead.
Lanark’s Andy Crielly and Albert’s David Hamilton came close with long-range efforts before David Bannerman equalised on 20 minutes by wrapping up a breakaway bid with a deft touch to steer the ball wide of ’keeper Craig Smith.
Lanark’s David O’donnell, then Albert’s Alan Campbell before Bannerman pounced again to give the home side a 2-1 half-time lead.
Albert stepped up the tempo after the break, and Campbell and O’kane had shots saved, while team-mate O’kane and defender Chris Rinn had good shots saved and Campbell headed over.
Then with the clock about to strike the 90-minute mark, a bouncing ball from an attempted clearance struck Cammy Lawson on the forearm, and referee Mark Hriston awarded a penalty.
Substitute Barry Murdoch calmly slotted the ball into the corner to clinch a point ... with seconds remaining of the game after the restart.
Albert manager Jamie Nesbett said: “Our first half was way below par – we weren’t at the races. We had a chat at half-time and were honest with ourselves.
“Our second half performance was definitely different class, and we could have come away with a win: some great performances – the back three were fantastic when we changed the shape and some of runs were outstanding.
“I thought the ball ricochets off the lad’s hand for the penalty, so maybe we were a wee bit lucky there – and the precious point that followed.”
He added: “It was good to come up to Lanark and compete so well – looking back over the years the games we have lost up there, we’re on the way up.”
Lanark manager John Brogan slated his side, and the referee.
He said: “It was a terrible game. Royal Albert deserved to win. They were the better team today. We were poor and well below par – terrible against a team that’s bottom of the league.
“I thought the referee was terrible – one of the poorest performances I’ve seen in a long time.”