An Inverurie Locos side crippled by eight absences through suspension, injuries and illness were forced to hold out for a goalless draw against a slick Buckie Thistle.
Buckie boss and former Locos midfielder Graeme Stewart was disappointed his side were unable to take all three points.
He said: “The fact their goalkeeper, Andy Reid, was voted man of the match shows you which team was on top.
“I thought we were the better team and played more football.
“We dominated the first half but the second half was a more even contest.
“They came at us for around 20 minutes but, other than that, I thought we were in control.”
Goalkeeper Reid made the first of several fine saves after 13 minutes when he kept out a close-range Sam Robertson header before Andy MacAskill sent a flashing left-foot drive just inches over the crossbar.
The hosts almost opened the scoring after 34 minutes when Chris Angus, playing against his former side, found fellow forward Neil Gauld, whose 14-yard strike hit the top of the crossbar.
But the Jags had their own chances to go in front, with Steven Ross missing an easy chance followed by MacAskill forcing Reid into another sprawling save.
Locos were denied a Gauld goal through a clearing defensive header, while Lee Herbert made an impressive save to prevent Angus making the breakthrough.
From there onwards it was wave after wave of Green and White attacking with Locos forced deep into their own half and Reid using all his experience to earn his side a point.
Despite being forced to survive a late barrage of pressure from the visitors, Inverurie boss Neil Cooper felt his side deserved a share of the spoils.
He said: “We’re delighted with the performance of the team, given we had so many players missing.
“We faced a good Buckie team who have had their own injury problems.
“They had some players back and some are still missing, but whenever you play them they are always competitive.
“I thought it was a hard game and both teams put a lot of effort in.
“I felt neither side deserved to lose the match and a draw was a fair result.”
The result leaves Locos in fifth position and 11 points adrift of top-of-the-table Cove Rangers, who won 4-2 at Clachnacuddin.
Cooper’s men, who have played three games more than the leaders, have won only one of their previous four matches in the Highland League.
Buckie, meanwhile, lie seventh in the table and seven points behind Formartine United, the team immediately above them.
Both teams will look to return to winning ways when Locos travel to Huntly this Saturday and Buckie host bottom side Fort William at Victoria Park.