Edinburgh City’s title hopes fade as Peterhead claim precious point in front of bumper Ainslie Park crowd

PETERHEAD took a massive stride towards the League 2 title as they claimed a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Edinburgh City at a packed Ainslie Park.

City were backed by a bumper crowd of 1057 – their biggest attendance of the campaign – but could not find the breakthrough required to truly re-ignite the race for top spot.

The stalemate ensures the Blue Toon retained their five-point advantage at the summit and, given their imperious form for the majority of the season, that gap could very well prove unassailable.

City survived an almighty early scare in the opening stages when a sloppy pass-back from Marc Laird allowed Rory McAllister to hare through on goal. However, Calum Antell tipped the 31-year-old’s low shot onto the post.

It was deja vu all over again when more slack play – this time from Brad Donaldson – gave Peterhead playmaker Willie Gibson possession in the final third. He fed McAllister, who was denied for a second time by Antell.

A Craig Thomson drive from distance was bread and butter for Greg Fleming as the hosts stirred into life.

The Citizens’ Welsh keeper Antell was enjoying an afternoon to remember and pulled off a wonderful finger-tip stop to deny a Gibson free-kick to ensure the scores remained level going into the break.

A Thomson free-kick rippled the side netting as James McDonaugh’s men chased a winner in the second period, while there were several late scrambles as City threw bodies forward – but Peterhead held firm for a precious point.