But it was a battling performance.

Craig Livingstone missed an early penalty before Athletic scored twice. Alan Jackson scored a brace to bring the Souters level, but they couldn't get that all-important winner into the net.

It wasn't for the want of trying, though. In the final minute, keeper John Dodds came up for a corner and his header came back off the woodwork.

Manager Fraser Lothian told The Wee Paper: "We played really well. I don't blame Craig one bit for missing the penalty as he went on to enjoy his best match of the season. He was outstanding and Annan didn't have a clue what to do with him.

"We didn't lose the season on Tuesday night, it was lost back in January when we had a run of poor form. And I've already said what I think about the fixture pile-up which made things tougher for us.

"It is always a hard ask to go to Annan and get a result, and that's how it turned out."

And as for his own future with the club, Lothian said: "I will be here until the end of the season. What happens beyond that, I am not sure. I haven't made any decision as to whether I will be staying on at Yarrow Park.

"For now, we still have two games left in the league and we'll be wanting to win them regardless.

"And we still have a cup final to look forward to.

"We may yet be able to salvage something from the season."