from The Courier
....Lichties boss John McGlashan said, "It would have been nice to have got all three points, but we are neither disappointed nor despondent.
"We knew Peterhead would give us a tough test, and the fact that we not only held our own for large portions of the game but also competed and forced them to battle for a draw says a lot about my players and how they are adapting to playing at a higher level. "If they didn't prior to this game, I'm sure they now all appreciate exactly what to expect as the season unfolds."
Arbroath survived several early scares when McKay, Stuart Anderson and Craig Gunn all had decent shots on goal in the opening exchanges, but a combination of poor finishing and some heroics by Lichties' keeper Darren Hill meant the sides went into the break at 0-0.
Arbroath striker Bryan Scott, who had sustained a knock to his leg, was replaced by Kenny Wright at half-time, and the the visitors gradually started to make more of an impression. Just 15 minutes after he had come on to replace John Fraser, young Masson showed great composure as he picked up the ball 25 yards out and, pausing only to turn and line up on his target, curled an unstoppable shot into the top-left corner of the net.
Peterhead redoubled their efforts and, with Arbroath looking to have secured a surprise win and retain top spot, McKay shattered their dreams when he cut inside the defence and slotted the ball home to earn his side a draw.
McGlashan said, "I think we played reasonably well throughout the 90 minutes and showed we were able to soak up pressure and then take our chances on the break.
"Peterhead's late equaliser shows that the top teams in this division will never give up and concede defeat—they will keep trying to break their opponents down from the first minute to the last, and that is something we have to aim for as well.
"As it was, we could have snatched a win right at the end when Barry Sellars hit a ferocious shot off the angle of the upright and crossbar, but we have to be satisfied with having given Peterhead a real game and coming away with a point.
"That result—coming after some fine pre-season performances and a solid start to the league and CIS Cup campaigns—is a great boost for team morale and shows that we have the fitness, ability and desire to achieve things on the park.
"I'm sure all Arbroath, like the players and management, enjoyed the novelty of being top of division two—even if it was just for one week—but we have to keep our feet on the ground and get stuck in for what is going to be a very long and tough season."
from The Press & Journal
had some good chances and had a lot of possession.
"Our guys were a bit disappointed about how the Peterhead goal came about but fair play to Neale's team, who I think are one of the favourites for promotion."
Wasteful Peterhead saw a lot of chances go begging and the leveller was a great relief to manager Neale Cooper.
The Blue Toon were made to pay when youngster Masson curled in his wonderful shot midway through the second half.
However, just when it looked like the Red Lichties would leave Balmoor Stadium with a victory, McKay struck with two minutes remaining to ensure a share of the points. Neale Cooper said: "We could have been four up in the first 20 minutes but we kept missing the target.
"That was frustrating and in the second half we struggled despite having plenty of the ball.
"But I was very pleased with the reaction I got from the players after Arbroath took the lead.
"We finished the game strongly and got our goal so it's nice to come away with a point when it looked like it was going to be one of those days we would get nothing." McKay was clean through after just two minutes but screwed his 14-yard shot past the post and then Stuart Anderson drilled wide from just outside the penalty area.
In the 12th minute, Craig Gunn failed to connect cleanly with Martin Bavidge's centre, volleying into the ground from close range before McKay headed off target from Sharp's free kick.