Peterhead had to battle for a draw against Highland League opposition again, as the Blue Toon scraped a draw from their visit to Keith.
Neale Cooper's threadbare squad had a patched-up look about it as they lined up at Kynoch Park, with strikers Davie Ross and Conor Gethins missing out with knee and shin injuries respectively, and Neil McVitie joining them on the sidelines with a gro
in strain.
The lack of bodies available meant Cooper was pleased to hand former Liverpool starlet Gary Mackay-Steven a start as a trialist after receiving a phone call from the winger seeking advice around finding a way back into the game.
Mackay-Steven lined up on the right of a makeshift midfield that saw Graeme Sharp play on the left and a central pairing of Ryan Strachan and Paul Young.
Otherwise, it was a familiar line-up, with Martin Bavidge partnering Dennis Wyness in attack and Daniel Moore dropping to the bench. The visitors created an opening as early as the first minute when Sharp shot well over, but it would be the Highland League side who went in front.
Darren McAllister
found Stuart Walker's head with a free-kick, and the Keith frontman rose virtually unchallenged to nod his side in front.
Peterhead's midfield was lacking any real bite, and as a result the Second Division side were struggling to create openings, until Mackay-Steven was bundled over just outside the area o the half-hour. Bobby Mann would put the resultant free-kick wide, however.
There was further bad news on the injury front as Sharp hobbled off with a thigh injury ten minutes before the interval, and he was soon followed by Mann, who had a neck complaint.
Finally, though, the Blue Toon drew level six minutes before the restart. Bavidge flicked on a Davie Donald throw, and Dennis Wyness spectacularly hooked the ball high into the net.
Parity was short-lived though, as Keith went back in front two minutes later. Walker found space to cross after beating Stuart Smith, and Gary Nicol was on hand at the back post to nod the ball into the net.
Peterhead drew level again nine minutes after the restart, as Bavidge got to the bye-line and pulled a tantalising ball across goal for substitute Moore to turn home from close range.
But the hosts had the best chance to win the match, Kris Niddrie sending a towering header towards goal where only the intervention of the impressive Cowie on the line prevented Keith taking the lead for a third time.
