Supersub Seals Victory As Loons Bounce Back

Forfar erased the memory of Saturday's nightmare against Livingston by earning an important victory away to Ayr Utd thanks to a well taken goal from Bryan Deasley.

It was a good performance from the Loons against a decent Ayr side and the visiting defence coped well with everything the home side could muster. Three changes were made from the weekend's starting line up, Jamie Bishop returned to the back four with Iain Campbell out injured, David Mowat and Graham Gibson replaced Darren Brady and Chris Templeman.

The home side started the match well and after six minutes a Trouten flick released Moffat who zoomed in on goal and fired low only to see Gallagher parry the ball away, but only into the path of the on rushing Roberts, Greg Ross then made a last gasp goal saving tackle to save the day for the visitors. Five minutes later and Trouten tested Gallagher from 20 yards out. Soon after and it was Martin who was tested from distance, Ryan Dow collected a loose ball in midfield and ran goalwards before trying his luck.

A nice ball from Roberts then found Moffat, who turned and shot high on target which forced a great one handed save from the Forfar number one.

After 21 minutes Dow was fouled on the left and took the free kick himself, it curled into the Ayr penalty box and Bolochoweckyj glanced the ball narrowly past the far post. Soon after and Dow was again in the action when he split the home defence with a well timed ball for Gibson to chase, Martin ran out and only just reached the ball first. The last chance of the half came after 34 minutes when Roberts and Moffat combined well on the right and when the former drilled the ball across the penalty box, there were no takers.

On the 47th minute Willie Easton collected a loose ball on the left before making his way into the Forfar penalty box and firing into the arms of Gallagher. Sixty seconds later and in an almost identical move Easton's shot deflected off Bolochoweckkj's back and looped just over the bar.

After 63 minutes Barry Sellars floated over a dangerous free kick, and as a scramble materialised, a free kick was given against Gibson. Ten minutes later and Ayr went close to breaking the deadlock. The usually reliable Bolochoweckyj slipped up when trying to make a simple clearance and the ball broke to Trouten who skied over from ten yards out when a goal looked more likely.

With four minutes remaining Ross Campbell collected the ball on the right, he fed Hilson with a great ball, and Dale in turn played a good ball to supersub Bryan Deasley, only on the park seven minutes, who struck a brilliant low shot past Martin.

Deep into injury time Callum Smith did well to keep the ball in and cross over the head of Martin and from six yards out Deasley drilled home number two, however the far side linesman failed to see the obvious - the ball had crossed the line by some disance before being scooped out by Martin and the goal was never awarded.

The final whistle soon came and the Forfar victory tightens up the already close run in for the promotion play off places.

Match Report by Kevin Brown