Torrential rain on Tuesday evening throughout this reserve league fixture failed to halt a highly entertaining match with both teams having to settle for a share of the points.

Annan pinned Stranraer back for the opening 15 minutes and shots from Storey and Hoolickin brought out the best in keeper David Mitchell.

It was however the home team who went ahead against the run of play with an excellent goal manufactured wide on the right when Scott McManus slipped past Alan Inglis to finish with a perfect cross and Martin Jack rose to powerfully head the ball into the net from the edge of the 6 yard box to give Greg Kelly no chance.

Almost immediately Annan had claims for a penalty brushed aside when Phil Storey and keeper David Mitchell clashed. Annan squared the match on the half hour mark when Kenny Wright’s net bound shot was deflected for a corner and from the resulting Lewis Sloan corner Aaron Muirhead powered in at the near post to volley the ball into the roof of the net from 4 yards.

Storey unleashed a cracking shot in the 36^th minute but Mitchell pulled off a fine one handed save for a corner.

Stranraer enjoyed their best spell of the game for the opening 15 minutes of the second half and Annan had to defend in numbers. Martin Jack edged the home team in front in the 52^nd minute when his 15 yard shot through a ruck of players gave Kelly no chance.

Kelly then pulled off an instinctive save to deny Raymond Montgomerie who’s initial effort cannoned off the cross bar.

Annan squared the match in the 61^st minute when Aaron Muirhead’s cross was chested down by Scott Anson who then volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from 8 yards.

Anson then missed a golden opportunity to seal the match in the 68^th minute when he latched on to a bad pass back but the Annan striker showed no composure and failed to find a way past keeper David Miitchell.

Stranraer substitute Danny Michell came close in the 75^th minute when his shot clipped the top of the post and with time running out on a rain lashed stair park Alan Inglis rifled in a good thirty yarder which flashed past the upright.