In the end it took yet another of Merpro's recent spirited second half performances to gain a share of the spoils after a difficult first half. The fightback point was finally sealed with a wonderful goal of the season contender in the closing minu
tes.
Merpro started well knocking the ball around confidently but were rocked after a flighted cross was fumbled into the net by the triaist keeper in 3 minutes.
Merpro immediately went on the attack with Milne running through but was unable to beat the last man in 5 minutes.
Merpro created another quick chance after a storming Houston wing run and cross came to Milne but his sliding shot just went past the post from 5 yards.
Merpro were again shocked when Kelso went further ahead after a long throw was knocked home at the near post with a rising snap shot coming off the underside of the bar in 9 minutes.
Somehow without looking in any way threatening, Kelso were 2-0 ahead.
Merpro tried to get back into the match with Graham having a couple of opportunities .
The match was becoming increasingly towsy mainly as a result of Merpro frustrations boiling over as a result of the scoreline and fuelled by some difficult officiating decisions.
Donaldson looked to have scored a valid goal with a skillful 20 yard shot from a Houston cross but was given offside in 35 minutes.
Merpro managed to close the gap after an excellent dribbling wing run and cut back was knocked into the net by Scott Wilson from 10 yards in 40 minutes.
Kelso came back with a rare attack gaining a free kick and from the resultant cross an attacker managed to sneak a drifting header into the net in 43 minutes.
Some half time positional changes were made and Merpro came back into the match when a Donaldson cross evaded the last defender and Scott Graham superbly controlled the ball on his chest before running through and slipping the ball under the advancing keeper from 15 yards to make it 3-2.
Graeme Allan then made a forcing run and cross setting up his brother Craig Allan but his shot came back off the post.
Merpro were now on the ascendancy and the keeper made a good save flicking a Donaldson shot round the post in 60 minutes.
From Donaldson's corner kick a Milne header went narrowly past the post.
Merpro continued to press and came close again after a Brown run and cross was hit by Donaldson and deflected goalwards by Milne only for the keeper to again save in 68 minutes.
Completely against the run of play Kelso made a break with a left wing cross evading Findlay in goal and the unmarked winger knocked the ball into the net from four yards at the back post in 74 minutes.
Merpro refused to buckle and Graeme Allan again made a forcing run down the right wing where his back post cross was met by a header from Smith only to be clawed off the line by the keeper.
Merpro finally got the goal their second half play deserved when Scott Graham broke through one on one with the keeper. Graham's first effort was saved but he reacted quickly to knock the rebound home in 80 minutes.
Merpro continued to push with Archbold firing in a ferocious low cross across the face of goal.
Milne met a Graham cross with a low diving header but his effort was well saved.
Milne then outjumped the defence from an Allan corner but his 6 yard header went narrowly past.
Frantic pressure finally paid off with an absolute peach of a goal in the 88th minute. Craig Archbold collected a bouncing clearance, swivelled and fired a controlled looping left foot volley from 25 yards into the top corner of the Kelso net then set off on a memorable touchline run of joyous high five celebrations.
Merpro can look back on this match with mixed feelings but the managed to overcome a challenging first half to put in a stirring second half performance to deservedly gain a point which keeps them in 4th place in the league table.
Merpro: Trialist (Brown), Findlay, Houston, C. Allan, Smith, G. Allan, Wilson, Whitworth, Graham, Milne, Donaldson(Archbold). Sub: Doyle.
