Airdrieonians 0 Forfar Athletic 2

The Loons got their League One season off to a fantastic start with a 2-0 win away to Airdrieonians on Saturday.

Goals in the second half from Andy Jackson and Callum Tapping sealed the win against Ian Murray’s outfit.

Jim Weir made one change with the suspended Michael Travis replaced by Mark Docherty in the centre of defence.

Despite possession between the sides being fairly even, Forfar had the best chances of the half with Ross Forbes, Gary Irvine, Callum Tapping all going close.

At the other end, Marc McCallum was forced into a save by former Partick striker Ally Roy just before half time.

The final chance of the half fell to Jordan Kirkpatrick but his header was deflected wide.

The Loons came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and within three minutes thought they had broken the deadlock. Tapping had a shot pushed wide and from the corner, he looked to have scored but for an apparent foul ruling it out.

They weren’t to be denied in the 52nd minute as Dale Hilson easily dispossessed Josh Kerr and made his way towards goal before squaring it for the unmarked Andy Jackson to slip under David Hutton.

Darren Whyte was denied by former Loon Adam Eckersley when his header was cleared off the line and his follow up effort deflected past the post.

Tapping made up for his earlier goal being disallowed in the 55th minute; heading home a Forbes corner for his second Loons goal.

Neither side were able to find the net following this as Jim Weir’s side saw the game out to secure three points in the opening League One fixture of the 2019-20 season.

Match report by Lee Smith

Airdrieonians: Hutton, Eckersley, Kerr (Carrick 71), Crighton, Fordyce, Wedderburn, Gallagher, Roy (O’Reilly 62), Smith, Millar, Cowan (Thomson 46)

Subs not used: McKay, Hawkshaw, Roberts, McNeil (gk)

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Meechan, Burns, Whyte, Docherty, Tapping (Robertson 83), Hilson, Irvine, Jackson (Aitken 87), Forbes, Kirkpatrick (Coupe 77)

Subs not used: Bain, Mackintosh, McGuff (gk)