Another Defeat Pushes Loons Near the Drop

Forfar Athletic 1 Stenhousemuir 2

Forfar began their home encounter against Stenhousemuir looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games.

The Boss fielded the same starting line up that began against East Fife last Tuesday, and as the game began, the Loons started with confidence and were soon on the attack. After 3 minutes Chris Hegarty sent a pin point cross into the visitor's penalty box for Chris Templeman to control, he didn't connect properly and his shot finished a yard past Brown's goal. But things started to go Stenhousemuir's way after 12 minutes when on-loan signing Kenny Deuchar was allowed to play on, despite looking a few yards offside, his shot was cleared by Paterson, but the rebound fell back to Deuchar who passed wide to BROWN FERGUSON and he had no trouble in firing past the Forfar keeper.
 
After 16 minutes Kean was released down the left flank and as he zoomed in on goal it took a timely challenge from Iain Campbell to avert the danger. Just before the half hour mark, the Warriors pressed the Forfar defence hard in a bid to double their lead. After Chris Hegarty had fouled the visiting trialist, Kevin McKinlay curled his free kick round the home wall, but thankfully for the Loons, the effort lacked power and Paterson saved.  Just before half time Deachar and Ferguson combined well, but as Ferguson manoeuvred himself to take a shot McCulloch got his body in the way, and the pressure was eased.

As in the first half, the Loons began brightly, but soon conceded a goal. David Mowat failed to clear his lines,and STEWART KEAN took advantage and Forfar were two down. The home side replied almost immediately when Greg Ross sent a high cross deep into the visitor's box, as Templeman and Coyne challenged with two defenders the ball broke to NICKY LOW, he steadied himself before drilling the ball past Brown. The Loons should have equalised after 63 minutes when Iain Campbell picked out Dale Hilson, and although he had a free header the ball ended up in the safe grasp of Brown. Forfar continued to dominate the second half but just couldn't grab the equaliser. In the final 15 minutes the Boss replaced Coyne, Hegarty and Templeman with Gibson, Motion and Byers in a bid to liven things up. The closest the Loons came to levelling matters was after 87 minutes, Hilson was fouled on the edge of the penalty box and Fotheringham took the free kick, the ball was headed away but as it went back to him, he entered the box on the right before shooting hard and low across the six yard box, all it needed was a touch, but Brown advanced and safely gathered the shot.

Forfar now have a big game on Tuesday evening when they travel to take on relegation rivals Stirling Albion. A win for the home side would see them leap frog the Loons, but victory for FAFC would give them some breathing space for the final run in of the season.

Match Report by Kevin Brown.