Disappointing End to Development League Campaign
[Wednesday, 18 April 2018 10:00]
The ‘Loons’ Development side ended their competitive season with a 2-2 home draw against bottom of the table Cowdenbeath at Station Park last night.
The overall display from the home side lacked some of the sparkle that has been seen on previous occasions, this despite taking the lead against the Fifers in the fourth minute when Sam Clark bulleted home a header from a right wing corner.
The visiting keeper then did well to block a Jamie Penker strike, before the equaliser came in the 32nd minute of the contest. Cameron Muirhead was the scorer for the Central Park side with a left foot strike from 14 yards out.
However the ‘Loons’ restored their one goal advantage two minutes before the break, Max Avolio finishing off a fine move with a crisp strike from 15 yards out into the ‘postage stamp’ corner of the net.
The second period was a fairly turgid affair and in the dying embers it was the ‘Blue Brazil’ defender Ian Sneddon who secured a point for his side heading home a left wing cross.
This result means either a final fifth or sixth place finish in the table for the Athies with a league record of seven wins and three draws from their eighteen games played.
Hopefully and more importantly as time evolves a few of the youngsters will go on to emulate Murray MacKintosh, Michael Kennedy and Matthew Aitken and cement a place in the Forfar Athletic first team squad.
Only time will tell but thanks go to Eddie Gray, Kevin McNaughton, Steve Fallon and thankfully a fit again Arty Gray for all the work they have put in with the squad over the season.
The SPFL/SFA have decided to replace the Development League set up with Reserve Leagues next season and the ‘Loons’ who have been the only club at their level in the area to participate in the Development League structure in recent years have intimated an initial interest in participating in a potential Reserve League East in season 2018/19.