Loons Enter The New Year With Defeat

Brechin City 2 Forfar Athletic 1

Forfar Athletic travelled the short distance to first foot Brechin, and left them with a New Year gift of three precious league points. The Loons were boosted before the derby encounter with the news that the Boss had secured the services of Dale Hilson until the end of this season's league campaign. Hilson of course spent the majority of last season impressing the Forfar faithful during his previous loan spell.

The Loons began the match in positive fashion, and after 4 minutes had claims for a penalty. Hilson received a long ball and sped into the home penalty box before trying to sneak between two defenders, he went down under a challenge, but the official waved play on.  After 11 minutes, a slow build up on the left between Greg Ross and Iain Campbell gave David Mowat a chance to shoot, but his effort was straight at Craig Nelson. Minutes later and Mowat lifted a great pass over the Brechin defence, Hilson ran onto the ball, but Nelson just reached it first.

It was one way traffic as Forfar continued to have the upper hand. Next to try his luck was Chris Templeman, who collected a good through ball from Joe Shaughnessy before firing low on target, Nelson tipped the shot round the post. The home side created their first real opportunity on 35 minutes when a low shot from McManus was deflected behind for a corner. The corner was met by the head of Lister, but Iain Campbell scoped the ball off the line and cleared the danger. Minutes later, and Forfar got the reward their work had merited. Ross Campbell collected the ball on the right, beat two defenders before sending over
an inch perfect cross for TEMPLEMAN who powered home a header past Nelson.  After 42 minutes the Loons almost doubled their lead, following great build up play between Ross and Hilson, Campbell hammered his strike on target, but Nelson saved well and palmed the ball behind for a corner.

Despite Forfar having the bulk of the first half play, Brechin should have equalised on the stroke of half time when a McLean cross found McManus on his own, he connected well with the ball but headed wide, and the Loons went in for the break one goal to the good.

The first action of the second half saw Brechin level matters. McKenna won the ball on the left before sending over a cross for McMANUS to hammer past Greg Paterson. Minutes later and McKenna again fed McMANUS who slotted the ball past the onrushing Paterson and into the corner of the net. Both goals were shockers to concede and no doubt the Boss aired his displeasure in the post match "chat". In fact things could have been worse, on 65 minutes Lister's shot beat Paterson, but rebounded back off the post.

Things began to even out, and it was Forfar who were now going forward with intent, but moves were breaking down after a pass too much, or a cross that found a home player instead. With a quarter of an hour remaining a triple swap was made, Fotheringham, Byers and Tulloch replaced Ross, Motion and Iain Campbell. Six minutes later after Hilson was fouled on the left , Fotheringham's cross avoided the whole defence and was met by the head of Templeman, unfortunately he headed downwards and the ground took the sting out of his effort before Nelson gathered. With time running out, a good move between McCulloch and Templeman allowed Fotheringham to shoot on target, but straight at Nelson.

And that was that, a derby defeat, coupled with Stirling Albion's victory sent Forfar to occupy the bottom spot of Division Two. The Loons now put their indifferent league form to one side as the mouth watering prospect of facing Aberdeen is just around the corner. I for one, know that Forfar Athletic will be giving their all on Saturday, let's hope the Loons can do us proud.

Match Report by Kevin Brown.