Following Saturday’s slender defeat to Stenhousemuir, Rose welcomed Forfar Athletic to New Dundas Park for the first time since the opening day of the cinch League Two season.

Robbie Horn opted to make three changes from the side who took on Stenny. Defenders Dean Brett and Neil Martyniuk missed out through suspension and injury, respectively, while striker Kieran Mitchell dropped to the bench. Scott Gray, Conor Doan and Zander Murray replaced the trio.

Forfar forward Ben Armour threatened twice in the early stages. A fortunate bounce led to the 24-year-old sending a half-volley over the bar in the third minute, before another opportunity to score revealed itself when indecision at the back from Rose allowed the attacker to seize control of the ball and fire wide from 20 yards out.

Just beyond the half-hour mark, the visitors blew a golden chance to take the lead when Nathan Flanagan rapidly broke through the Rose backline. The winger squared it to Seb Ross, but the midfielder fluffed his lines and rolled his shot into the arms of Paddy Martin.

Conor Doan deliveries started causing trouble but Kerr Young, with a wayward swipe, and Callum Connolly, with a tricky header, both missed the target either side of the interval after meeting the impromptu wing-back’s set-pieces.

Armour was soon prevented up the other end by a strong Martin stop after jinking past Josh Grigor and Alan Horne. Less than a minute later, Zander Murray was scythed down by Andy Munro on the cusp of the Forfar penalty area, with the defender picking up a booking for his cynical last-man challenge.

Rose were growing stronger – especially since the introduction of target man Keiran McGachie, who was impacting play in both attack and defence – but were dealt a blow when Forfar defender Mark Docherty was bundled over by substitute Robbie McGale inside the penalty area. Armour stepped up and slammed home his spot kick to give the away side the lead.

McGale bounced back stronger from his error, however, and the out-of-position youngster, alongside McGachie, were prominent in Rose’s search for an equaliser.

The pair combined well on the right flank to feed fellow substitute Ross Gray the ball inside the penalty area, before the attacking midfielder was seemingly caught by the trailing leg of his marker, and subsequently spun off his feet, but referee Colin Whyte waved play on.

Just moments later, Kieran Mitchell, also fresh off the bench, raced beyond his flailing defensive counterparts before being brought down on the very edge of the 18-yard-box. Rather than being awarded a free-kick or, less likely so, a penalty, the forward received a yellow card for simulation.

Frustrated by two ambiguous decisions, the loudening Rosey Posey faithful were fairly compensated by a late equaliser. Lee Currie, yet another pair of fresh legs subbed on to make an impact, whipped in a dangerous free-kick towards McGachie at the back post. The big man made no mistake in bundling the ball home to draw Rose level.

Being the team on the ascendancy, Rose then rightfully pushed for a dramatic winner and it so, so nearly came deep into stoppage time

A driven strike from McGale on the half-volley that was heading wide smacked off McGachie, allowing the striker to force the ball home from close range beyond Marc McCallum and seemingly snatch all three points from the Loons… until the linesman’s flag went up.

An incredibly tight call to make – on top of a controversial penalty claim beforehand – will be sure to make the match highlights a tense viewing. But for now, we look ahead to Saturday as we make the trek up north to Borough Briggs to take on Elgin City.

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