Loons Tame Lions

Forfar Athletic 1 Livingston 0

Forfar recorded their third league win in a row with a very assured victory against big time Livingston.  A top drawer performance earned the Loons a single goal victory, but had it not been for the heroics of Bullock in the Livi goal the winning margin would have been greater.

Forfar were the better side in the first half although it was disappointing to see them without a goal for their efforts at the break.  Iain Campbell forced Bullock into a fine save as his left footed free kick looked destined for the top corner.  As the half came to an end Bullock produced another excellent save to prevent a sweet strike from Hilson finding the net after great set up play from Templeman.  Sanny then saw a header land on the roof of the net as Forfar pushed for an elusive goal.

In the second half the visitors came more into the game and in two separate instances during the forty-five minutes Gallacher in the Forfar goal had to make a save. Phew!  The Loons took the lead in the seventy second minute when Iain Campbell deceived the Livi defence with a square free kick when they were expecting a whipped-in cross.  The ever impressive Scott Allan stepped forward and thundered a terriffic first-time right foot shot high into the net from twenty-five yards out.  As Livi tried to respond Barr was booked for diving as he skipped past Ross Campbell in the Forfar box before taking a step too many on his way to the turf.  At the other end a low ball into the box from Templeman had no takers as Forfar looked for a second and soon afterwards Bullock pulled off a magnificent save from a Deasley volley from near the penalty spot.  What made the save so good was the fact that the Livi custodian was on his knees as the shot came in, but he still managed to throw himself to the right to parry the ball round the post.  Hilson then went one on one with Bullock, but he delayed his shot and the Livi keeper managed to deflect the ball to safety.  As the match came to a close Livi won a free kick twenty yards out and it would have been harsh on Forfar if the ball had landed in the net rather than coming back off the cross bar to safety.  Fittingly the last action in the game was a stinging shot from Forfar substitute Smith which Bullock beat away to be cleared by his defence.

The final whistle went with Forfar deep in the Livi half of the park.  Man of the match Mark McCulloch was part of a superbly solid defensive unit which set the platform for this superb win, and it was good to see Darren Brady start a game for the first time after coming back from a long term injury.  This win keeps Forfar well placed in the league as they look to at least consolidate their place in the second division.

Match report by Cameron Davidson