Ten-man Dufftown secured a share of the points after an action packed afternoon at Keith Park.

With heavy rain falling in the Aberdeen area for most of the morning the Keith Park surface passed a 1.00pm inspection by match referee Daniel Forbes meaning that Dufftown could play their first match since December 12.  Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes to 2.30pm to allow the Dufftown players to warm up properly as due to the possible postponement of the match the team bus did not arrive at Keith Park until around 1.30pm.

With fellow manager Rab Mulheron absent on medical grounds Willie Duncan made three changes to the side that started against Stonehaven 5 weeks ago.  Out went Ian Cameron, Adam Irvine and Daryl McGregor to be replaced by Mark Taylor, Rab Coll and Alan Shearer.

Dufftown created the first real chance of the match after 16 minutes.  Mark Taylor showed good strength in midfield before finding Alan Shearer, Shearer drove forward with the ball before releasing a perfect pass into the feet of Rab Coll, the striker showed neat footwork to make space for himself before firing in a low shot which beat home 'keeper Dane Poupard but went narrowly past the 'keeper's right hand post.

Play swung to the other end and Hillhead's first chance after 22 minutes.  Midfielder Darren Pyper strode forward before unleashing a powerful 25 yard effort which Dufftown 'keeper Martin Taylor did well to divert beyond his right hand post and out for a corner.

Hillhead then had another chance on 32 minutes after some careless defensive play by Dufftown's Kevin Smith.  The substitute was short with a backpass to 'keeper Taylor forcing the 21 year old into a sliding clearance which landed straight at the feet of Hillhead's Gavin Walker some 40 yards out but the striker's effort drifted wide of the Dufftown goal.

Hillhead then took the lead just a minute later.  Intricate play on the edge of the Dufftown penalty area saw the ball eventually find its way to Michael Cormack and with the Dufftown defenders appealing for offside the striker wasted no time in despatching the ball low beyond Martin Taylor and into the Dufftown net.

Things were to go from bad to worse for Dufftown after 35 minutes when central defender Paul Lamberton was controversially red-carded.  Hillhead's Keiran Heads broke down the Dufftown right and Lamberton appeared to execute a perfectly timed tackle, clearly winning the ball but referee Forbes decided otherwise, deeming the offence worthy of a red card due to serious foul play.

Dufftown almost equalised after 39 minutes.  A Mark Sanderson cross found Stuart Allan in the Hillhead penalty area and Dufftown's top scorer's looping header crashed off the Hillhead crossbar with home 'keeper Poupard well beaten.

The final chance of the half was to fall to Hillhead on 45 minutes.  Goalscorer Michael Cormack again found some space in the Dufftown penalty area but his low right footed shot could only find the side-netting and the chance was gone.

Into the second half and the first chance was to be created by the ten men in the opening minute of the half.  Substitute Gary Spence drove towards the Hillhead defence from midfield before finding Alan Shearer in space.  Shearer's 16 yard effort crashed off of the Hillhead crossbar before bouncing down just the wrong side of the goal-line as far as Dufftown were concerned before it was grabbed by home 'keeper Poupard.

Dufftown had dominated the opening stages of the second half and were rewarded with the equalising goal after 53 minutes.  Midfielder Mark Sanderson showed great footwrok in the Hillhead penalty area to induce a late tackle from home defender Matthew Bremner which left referee Forbes with no option but to point to the penalty spot.  Up stepped Stuart Allan, who had missed a penalty in Dufftown's last match, to send home 'keeper Poupard the wrong way and deservedly bring Dufftown back to level terms.

Hillhead then missed a fine chance to take the lead for a second time after 63 minutes. A corner kick was swung into the Dufftown penalty area by Darren Pyper onto the head of substitute Steven Sim but Sim was unable to direct his free header from around 10 yards towards the target and the danger was averted.

Dufftown's Rab Coll then created a great chance for himself after 70 minutes.  He picked the ball up just inside the Hillhead half, showing great strength and skill he beat several Hillhead defenders before firing in a shot from around 16 yards that home 'keeper Poupard did well to block before the Hillhead defence scrambled the ball clear.

Hillhead then survived a strong appeal for another Dufftown penalty after 74 minutes.  A free kick was swung over from the Dufftown left by captain Stuart Lamberton and striker Stuart Allan appeared to be pushed by a Hillhead defender, despite the loud appeals referee Forbes decided that no penalty would be given.

There was to be more controversy after 79 minutes.  A scramble in the Hillhead penalty area saw home 'keeper Poupard attempt to grab the ball on the ground.  Dufftown's Stuart Allan challenged the 'keeper for the ball and managed to knock it to Gary Spence who rolled the ball into the empty net.  Referee Forbes decided, however, that Poupard had possession of the ball and that Allan had illegally retrieved it from the 'keeper and so the goal was disallowed.

Dufftown were piling on the pressure and created another golden opportunity after 82 minutes.  Superb link up play involving Rab Coll, Gary Spence and Stuart Allan saw the latter find Mark Sanderson.  Midfielder Sanderson broke into the Hillhead penalty area before crashing a right footed shot off of 'keeper Poupard's left hand post and behind for a goal kick.

Just two minutes later and another superb opportunity for Dufftown.  Stuart Allan did well in the Hillhead box before firing in an effort which appeared be blocked by the hands of a Hillhead defender on the goal-line.  Referee Forbes wasn't interested in Dufftown's appeals for a penalty however, and waved play on.

The final chance of the match came for Hillhead after 88 minutes.  Another Darren Pyper corner caused confusion in the Dufftown defence allowing defender Matthew Bremner to get his head to the ball but Bremner's header flew wide of the target and the chance was lost.

The final whistle was blown just a short time later and Dufftown can be pleased with their afternoon's work, indeed the ten-men really should have taken all three points.