And, still without a fit goalkeeper, central defender John Duncan again found himself deputising between the posts.

With most of the play in the first 20 minutes being contained around the midfield it was the Arbroath team which eventually made the breakthrough.
D. Sturrock's cross from the left was met by OWBRIDGE and while his header hit the crossbar, he reacted quickest to prod home from four yards after 23 minutes.

With 35 minutes gone a North End throw in was collected by REILLY who headed down the left and, just when it looked like he had run the ball out of play, he managed to send it goalwards from the tightest of angles to level the game.

ASC then won a series of corners but failed to capitalise on any of them and paid the penalty in the 43rd minute.
A poor clearance by Gersok was picked up by MCBRIDE 35 yards from the ASC goal. Seeing Duncan off his line he unleashed a powerful shot to give the Dundee side the lead.

It proved to be short lived when, from a Sievwright corner, MACFARLANE rose above the defence to power a header into the net on the stroke of half-time.

Half-time: North End 2, ASC 2.

ASC found themselves under the cosh as the second half got under way after C. Sturrock gave away a needless free kick on the edge of the penalty area. CLARK stepped up and left Duncan stranded as his shot dipped in to reinstate North End's lead.

The Arbroath side pushed on and when they won a corner MacFarlane was just inches away from a repeat of his first goal.

However, despite throwing everything at the home side ASC were unable to draw the game level.

Arbroath SC - Duncan, C. Sturrock, Gersok, Martin, Richardson, Hamilton, Duff, D. Sturrock, MacFarlane, Owbridge, Sievwright. Unused substitutes - Webster and Atkinson.

Tomorrow (Saturday) ASC are away to Montrose Roselea in the North Region League. Kick off is at 2.30 p.m.