Doris opens Forfar goal account with leveller against Blue Toon

Forfar scored a late equaliser to pick up a vital point against fellow League 1 strugglers Peterhead at Balmoor last night.

The Loons were heading for defeat until former Arbroath striker Steven Doris headed home with eight minutes remaining to cancel out Steven Boyd’s goal.

Forfar Boss Stuart Malcolm, whose men remain ninth, said: “We could not afford to come up and lose the game so at the very least we had to try and get a point.”

“We managed to do that with a goal near the end but I thought we should have had been ahead at half-time but in the second half Jim’s side had a couple of great chances.”

“In the end, it could have gone either way so overall I think a draw was probably a fair result.”

Jordan Kirkpatrick sliced open the Peterhead defence in the 20th minute with an incisive pass which sent Robbie Leitch clear, but after running in on goal the midfielder’s effort was pushed behind for a corner by Greg Fleming.

Fleming was called into action again three minutes before halftime following a swift break from the visitors involving Doris, Bobby Barr and Bernard Coll but the latter’s shot was well blocked.

But the Blue Toon made the breakthrough in the 49th minute through former Hamilton forward Boyd.

Alan Cook saw his near post shot blocked and the ball broke for Boyd, who hit a low six yard shot through a ruck of bodies.

Boyd nearly scored his second in the 68th minute when he prodded a volley wide and he was then foiled by Loons keeper Marc McCallum shortly after.

However, Doris drew Forfar level with a fine header. Coll delivered a deep left wing cross and the January transfer window signing directed a looping header beyond the reach of Fleming for his first goal in Loons colours.

Boyd was unlucky not to win it for the hosts with a stoppage time effort, which crashed off the crossbar. Attendance: 443, Peterhead: Fleming, Stevenson, Jason Brown, Bollan, Conroy, Ferry, Scott Brown, Leitch, Lyle (Smith 69), Cook (Fraser 81), Boyd. Subs not used: Leonard Wilson, Ferguson, Boyle, Eadie.

Forfar: McCallum, Meechan, Whyte, Stanger (Bain 78), Coll, Leitch (McKenzie 72), Irvine, Robertson (Tapping 59), Barr, Doris, Kirkpatrick. Subs not used: Coupe, McGuff, MacKintosh, Aitken.

Referee: Steven Reid.

● Forfar have signed Ayr United striker Mark McKenzie, 19, on a temporary transfer until the end of the season.

● Stranraer’s match against Montrose at Stair Park was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.