Luthermuir started brightly but found themselves a goal down after two minutes when an attempted headed passback from Morrison gave Hall no chance as it found the bottom corner of the net.

They responded well to this setback and Anderson's turn and snapshot was well saved at the near post. Pearson then cut in from the right and his goalbound shot was deflected out to Irvine whose long range effort grazed the post.

Anderson forced another save from the keeper from a Ferris through ball, then Reid had to leave the pitch to receive attention to a head wound.

In the 22nd minute, Reid then Pearson had shots blocked. Another Anderson snapshot was well held by the keeper, then Blackburn nearly increased their lead with their first attack of note in the 28th minute when they headed narrowly wide.

Luthermuir should have equalised in 32 minutes when a Ferris cross was headed into the path of Reid by Anderson but he shot straight at the keeper from 8 yards. Ferris again found Anderson in the box, but his shot on the turn was held by the keeper.

Despite their dominance Luthermuir had a let off just before half-time when Grant was caught in possession at the edge of the box and a Blackburn forward was just off target as he attempted to chip Hall.

Luthermuir started the second half in determined fashion and Ferris forced two saves from the keeper in the first five minutes. Twice crosses from Neil Arthur were headed back across goal by Reid to Anderson and twice the keeper was brave by saving at Anderson's feet.

Pearson was next to test the keeper in 67 minutes before he was replaced by Mason. Good play from Grant, Anderson and Arthur in 72 minutes ended with the Blackburn keeper again saving at the feet of Anderson and he then followed this up by saving at the feet of Neil Arthur.

With time running out Luthermuir pushed more and more men forward and a Duff header from a Hamish Stuart cross flew inches over.

Just when it appeared that time and the Blackburn keeper would prevent Luthermuir from scoring, good play from Stuart and Duff found Murdoch Anderson in the box and his nearpost shot found the back of the net.

Luthermuir should have recorded a comfortable win in a game they totally dominated but their inability to finish off teams when on top, as in previous games, means even a win in their final league fixture may not be enough to save them from relegation.

Luthermuir must take three points, at home to Dyce and hope that Bridge of Don take no more than five points from their four remaining games.

Luthermuir: Hall, Morrison, Irvine, Grant, Duff, Pearson (Mason), N. Arthur, Reid, Anderson, Fotheringham (H. Stuart), Ferris.