LADESIDE threw away two valuable points against their relegation rivals as they drew despite having a two goal lead five minutes before the final whistle.

LADESIDE threw away two valuable points against their relegation rivals as they drew despite having a two goal lead five minutes before the final whistle.

The hosts made the breakthrough in 22 minutes. A Ryan Borris shot from inside the box was saved by the insiting goalie but Adam Forde was there to slam home the rebound.

Right on half-time came Ladeside netted a wonder goal when a Forde shot struck the inside of the post and went into the net. Ladeside replaced the injured Willie Gibson with Joe Coleman at the break, with this reshuffle unsettling the home defence.

The visitors almost pulled one back soon after the Ladeside change. Allan McCrum and Ross Brash’s combined dangerous attack saw a Brash shot from the edge of the box going just past the right hand post. In 67 minutes Ladeside should have wrapped up all three points. A strong surging run by Graham Boyd saw him left one-on-one with the Shotts keeper.

He could have passed the ball square to Borris for a easy tap-in but instead the young striker chose to take the chance himself but his weak shot was straight at the keeper.

Two minutes later Shotts had their best chance of the game so far. Andrew Scott Cross’s cross found Garry Campbell as he rose above everyone inside the box yet his header went inches past the right hand post.

With the points looking like being secured for the Valefield side, Shotts made a tactical switch by putting Ciaran Donnelly into midfield from his central defensive role. This paid off in 86 minutes when a well-worked move resulted in his strike from 20 yards flying low into the right hand corner putting them back into the game.

Ladeside could not hold on as a minute from time Shotts netted a crucial leveller when Andy Scott shot home from an unmarked position wide on the left into the right hand corner of the net.

Both teams now face a more difficult uphill battle to escape from the relegation zone.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: Fahey; Gray, Malone, Gibson, Gair, Marriott, Borris, McGuinness, Forde, McLean, Boyd. Subs: Coleman, McAnespie.