An incredible goal from Richard Shanks 5 minutes from the end denied Dufftown the point that their second half play merited after a game of few chances at Simpson Park.

Dufftown manager Paul Lamberton made three changes to the side that drew with Fochabers on Saturday.  Out went Blair McDonald, William Siford and Alan Shearer to be replaced by Scott Riddoch, Alan Gray and Gary Simpson.

Islavale almost opened the scoring in the first minute of the match.  A free kick was swung over from the right by Aaron McPherson to to head of George Cowie inside the Dufftown penalty area but the Islavale man's header looped just over Dufftown 'keeper Scott Riddoch's crossbar.

Islavale did take the lead after 10 minutes.  This time it was Keiran Cruickshank with the cross deep to the back post where Aaron McPherson outjumped Dufftown's Alan Gray before bulleting a fine header beyond Scott Riddoch and into the Dufftown net.

Dufftown almost equalised with their only meaningful opportunity of the first half after 15 minutes.  A short free-kick from Stuart Lamberton found Gary Simpson in space inside the Islavale penalty area but the Dufftown number 2's shot was comfortably parried by home 'keeper Mark Robertson before the danger was cleared by the Islavale defence.

Islavale had one other chance in the first half.  After 33 minutes Aaron McPherson again did well down the Islavale right before crossing to Darren Stewart who saw his 18 yard volleyed effort fly just wide of 'keeper Riddoch's left hand post.

Into the second half and Dufftown manager Paul Lamberton almost grabbed the equaliser after 54 minutes.  Dufftown were awarded a free-kick some 25 yards from the Islavale goal and Lamberton stepped up to strike a left footed effort which home 'keeper Robertson did well to parry beyond his right hand post for a corner kick.

As Islavale had dominated the first half the second half was belonging to Dufftown but a lack of a cutting edge was hampering the men in green.

Defenders Peter Fraser and Gary Lamberton decided to team up after 74 minutes to create Dufftown's best chance of the match.  A terrific driving run by Fraser saw him advance down the Dufftown right before delivering a superb cross which found Gary Lamberton some 10 yards out.  His powerful header looked goalbound until Islavale 'keeper Mark Robertson somehow managed to tip the ball onto his own crossbar before it was cleared to safety by the Islavale defence.

Dufftown had to wait just a couple of minutes to get the equaliser however and it was to come about in controversial circumstances.  There seemed little danger as Dufftown's Andrew Ross chased after the ball in the Islavale penalty area.  The Dufftown striker crashed to the ground after a challenge from Islavale defender Andrew Mathieson.  Referee Douglas Ross decided that this was a foul and awarded a penalty to Dufftown and gave Mathieson his second booking of the match meaning that Islavale would play the last 14 minutes with 10 men.  The coolest man on the park, however, was Dufftown captain Stuart Lamberton who expertly sent 'keeper Robertson the wrong way from the spot kick to level the score.

Dufftown were on the ascendancy and almost took the lead after 82 minutes.  A free kick from Paul Lamberton was cleared narrowly over his own crossbar by Islavale's Richard Shanks.  From the resultant corner kick the ball broke to Dufftown's Andrew Ross some 16 yard's out but the striker's volleyed effort was blocked by home 'keeper Robertson before the danger was cleared by the Islavale defence.

Just as it looked like there was only going to be one winner up popped Islavale substitute Richard Shanks with a goal fit to win any game just five minutes from time. The midfielder picked the ball up on the Islavale left before cutting infield and unleashing a sensational 25 yard strike which left Dufftown 'keeper Scott Riddoch rooted to the spot as the ball flew into his top left hand corner.

The final whistle was blown a short time later by referee Ross and the Dufftown players can be left to rue their bad luck - they certainly deserved a point based on their second half performance and, but for that strike from Shanks, then a draw would probably have been a fair result.