SUPER-SUB Kris Amponsah rescued Arthurlie’s unbeaten league record with a late equaliser against Johnstone Burgh on Saturday.

The Barrhead team made the short trip to Keanie Park and looked set to lose the Conference A showdown as Danny McBeth got on the end of a David Collins corner to nod the home side ahead in the 68th minute.

However, with time running out, Amponsah replied with a close range header to secure a 1-1 draw.

Burgh had to play the closing stages with 10 men as Brian Connor picked up an injury after they had already used all of their replacements.

The result makes it 24 league games undefeated for Arthurlie, which is a new club record, trumping the previous best that was set between 1987 and 1988.

It also leaves them five points clear of nearest challengers Shotts Bon Accord, who have played two games more.

Neither camp were particularly happy with the outcome, as Burgh boss Jamie McKim felt his team did enough to deserve all three points, while Arthurlie assistant Craig Palmer admitted his players weren’t firing on all cylinders.

McKim said: “I was gutted to only walk away with a point after the performance we put on. For the amount my players put into the game, they deserved so much more.

“I’m proud of every one of the players. We looked better than Arthurlie and were the better side on the day.

“I feel as if we were undone by a refereeing decision again. We were down to ten players with ten minutes to go because of a ridiculous challenge on Brian Connor when we had made all our substitutes.

“It was a blatant red card for Arthurlie and the referee bottled it. That brings Arthurlie back into the game and, before that decision, they weren’t in the game.

“We win the game without that decision. It’s really tough to take.”

Palmer, meanwhile, hailed the impact made by his young guns in Saturday’s match.

Arthurlie could even have won it in added time as Aaron Healy struck the crossbar.

Healy was making his first start for the club, while development squad colleagues Amponsah and Paul O’Hare both made impressive cameos as substitutes.

Palmer said: “Aaron played the full game and did really well. Big Kris came on and got us a great header and Paul came on and caused them problems with his energy.

“We brought Kris and Paul off the bench and they definitely changed the swing of the game for us. We finished strongly, considering how poor we were in the game.

“I told Graham Vance [development squad manager] we were very pleased for them and with them.

“We went for it towards the end and got a goal and hit the bar as well, so we could have nicked it, but I think, overall, a draw was a fair result.

“They are running a wee bit on empty and it wasn’t a great performance but the togetherness and the fight was a pleasing aspect.”

Arthurlie are back in action at Dunterlie Park this Saturday, when they host Craigmark Burntonians, with kick-off at 2pm.

Burgh have no game scheduled for this weekend.