Loons Turn The Tables On League Leaders

Forfar Athletic 1 Cowdenbeath 0

Following Forfar Athletic's first league victory since September, they had a tough job on their hands if they wanted to record consecutive wins, as League leaders Cowdenbeath were visitors to Station Park.  The Loon's strike force was improved by the inclusion of mid-week signing Bradley Coyne.

The visitors were first out of the traps, and almost took the lead in the first minute, McKenzie was released down the right flank and cut inside before unleashing a fierce drive against the knees of McCallum. After 6 minutes McKenzie again enjoyed space down the right before feeding the ball to Liam Cusack, who curled an effort on target from just inside the box, only for the Forfar keeper to again produce a fine save. During the following quarter of an hour the League leaders enjoyed most of the possession but were finding it hard to create any real cut chances. Forfar had by then settled and began to have as much of the play as Cowdenbeath, with Nicky Low, playing well in the centre of midfield, hitting the post following a good move by new boy Bradley Coyne.

Then on the stroke of half time, the Loons opened the scoring. Greg Ross hit a long ball for Chris Templeman to flick on to Hilson, he in turn sent over a great cross for NICKY LOW to control well, before firing into the bottom corner of the net past the despairing reach of Flynn.

Both sides showed their intent within the first few minutes of the second half.  Following a Chris Hegarty corner being only half cleared, Ross Campbell tried his luck from 18 yards, but his effort flew over the bar, and almost immediately Lewis Coult thought he had levelled for Cowdenbeath when he tried to pick his spot past McCallum after a scramble in the box, but Joe Shaughnessy cleared the ball off the line. Five minutes later and Shaughnessy again came to rescue by clearing Marc McKenzie's effort off the line.

Forfar responded after the hour mark when a neat move between McCulloch and Hegarty allowed Greg Ross a long range shot which whistled just past. The visitors were still plugging away though in their efforts to find the equaliser, and Forfar were almost punished when Hegarty lost the ball to Stewart and as he tried to find enough space to fire on target, the Forfar defence crowded him out. Substitute Derek Lyle then found himself in space and sent over a good cross for Coult, but despite the forward being allowed a free header, he nodded his effort high over McCallum's bar.

As time ran out for the Blue Brazil, it was the home side who created the final chance of the match, a long throw in by McCulloch was flicked on by Templeman and reached Campbell in space in the left side of the box, Ross did well to beat his marker before firing in a low angled shot which the visiting custodian gathered.

Although Forfar haven't been playing badly recently, they have been giving away cheap goals, and it was very pleasing to see the Loons keep a clean sheet, and gain all three points against a pretty decent Cowdenbeath side.

Match Report by Kevin Brown.