Forfar Athletic 1 East Fife 2 (SPFL League One) 29th March 2014

Forfar Athletic       1      East Fife        2

Duggan 31                       Buchanan 35

                                        Austin 45+2

Forfar Athletic threw away a lead to lose to East Fife in the odd goal in three this past Saturday at Station Park in the sides final meeting this season.

After last week’s crushing defeat at Airdrieonians, suspenisions and injuries ruled out Iain Campbell, Darren Dods and Marvin Andrews so in came Chris Duggan and James Dale to the starting eleven from the bench whilst Gavin Swankie and Ross Campbell returned from knocks to take a spot on the bench.

There was also a substitute place for Keith Gibson, his first appearance in the squad of eighteen since his injury in September of 2012.

The Loons started off well with Chris Duggan forcing ex-Loon keeper Jack Hamilton into a good save from close range before he then set up Templeman with a great cross, Templeman though just failing to connect with it.

East Fife were unlucky not to score in the fifteenth minute, Darren Hill saving Kevin Smith’s effort but he could only parry it into Liam Buchanan’s path and his shot towards an open goal was excellently cleared by Gary Fusco off the line.

Just after the half hour mark Forfar took the lead, Hilson and Templeman unlucky not to score with Hamilton making great saves again. From the corner after Templeman’s shot was pushed over, Chris Duggan burst through the East Fife defence, powering his header home.

The visitors equalised two minutes later, Buchanan setting up Nathan Austin but his shot was pushed into Buchanan’s path and he slotted home.

Duggan had the closest chance for Forfar before half time, Fotheringham sending a great ball for him and he muscled his way past Scott Durie before sending a low effort inches wide.

Deep into first half injury time a long run with the ball by Kevin Smith, beating several players ended in him cutting the ball back for Austin, who bundled the ball home to make it 2-1.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 1 East Fife 2

Chances came and went for both sides in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, with Austin going close for East Fife while Stuart Malcolm, Hilson, Duggan and Fotheringham all saw attempts go wide of the post.

In the 65th minute Liam Buchanan fired over from a Smith cross before in the 79th minute Duggan set up Gavin Malin but his long range strike went just over.

Two minutes later a Fotheringham free kick on the edge of the area found Gary Fusco but he could only knock the ball into the sidenetting.

At the other end Nathan Austin headed onto the roof of the net after a great run by Kevin Smith before Stephen Hughes set up Buchanan again, his shot cannoning off the bar before being cleared with just five minutes to go.

The Loons spent the last five minutes chasing the game but couldn’t create any chances for an equaliser, the only thing of note being Chris Duggan recieving a yellow card for a shoulder barge his namesake ‘Hacksaw’ Jim would be proud of.

The club now have a two week break until their game with Dunfermline, as they were due to play Rangers next week but with Rangers in their first ever domestic cup final this coming Sunday when they play Raith in the Ramsdens Cup, that league game is now being played in mid-April.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Chris Duggan – great header for his goal, looks powerful and quick too.

Forfar Athletic: Darren Hill 6, Neil McCabe 5 (Gavin Malin 34, 6), Mark Baxter 6, Gary Fusco 7, Stuart Malcolm 6, James Dale 6, Omar Kader 6 (Gavin Swankie 75, 4), Martyn Fotheringham 6, Chris Templeman 6 (Ross Campbell 81, 2), Chris Duggan 8, Dale Hilson 7.

Subs not used: Gavin Thomson, Paul McLellan, Keith Gibson, Ross Salmon (gk).

East Fife: Jack Hamilton 7, Scott Durie 6, Craig Johnstone 6, Kevin Rutkiewicz 6, Stevie Campbell 6 (Gary Thom 79, 2), Stephen O’Neill 6 (Marc McKenzie 67, 5), Nathan Austin 7 (Jonny Stewart 85, 1), Lewis Barr 6, Liam Buchanan 8, Kevin Smith 8, Stephen Hughes 6.

Subs not used: Liam Wooley, Ryan Stewart, Bruce Inkango, Connor Shaw (gk).

Forfar Farmington 1 Hamilton Academical 7 (Scottish Women’s Premier League) 30th March 2014

Forfar Farmington          1           Hamilton Academical           7

McLaren 86                                    Turner 14, 18, 77

                                                       Sloey 26

                                                       Hogg 39 pen

                                                       Gemmell 71

                                                       Richardson 85

Forfar Farmington slipped down to 11th in the Scottish Women’s Premier League after losing 7-1 at home to Hamilton Academical in a spirited performance on Sunday.

Both sides started off well with chances for Accies’ Clare Gemmell and Katey Turner as well as Farmington’s Amy Gallacher before ex-Forfar striker Katey Turner lobbed the keeper to open the scoring in the 14th minute.

Four minutes later she rounded Fiona McNicoll to make it two nil before setting up Gillian Sloey in the 26th minute for the third for Hamilton. Just after the half hour mark Forfar midfielder Keira Johnstone was stretchered off with a serious knee injury after colliding with an opposition player. Gallacher went close with a free kick before Sydney Cairns bundled over Rachel Halliday in the Forfar box, Lyndsey Hogg netting the spot kick.

HALF TIME: Forfar Farmington 0 Hamilton Academical 4

Hamilton sub Carolina Richardson went close just after half time with two great efforts, the second her best but flew inches over the bar. At the other end captain Nicola Davidson and Leonie Simpson had chances but failed to convert them.

Simpson rounded Megan Cunningham in the 64th minute but her touch past was too heavy, she cut the ball back to Laura Parsley, who’s curled effort was held well by the keeper. With twenty minutes to go Hamilton made it 5-0, Clare Gemmell scoring from long range into an empty net after McNicoll’s poor clearance.

Turner grabbed her hat-trick in the 77th minute, Sloey returning the favour for her goal earlier, slipping a through ball for her and she knocked the ball past McNicoll. Carolina Richardson got the goal she deserved with five minutes to go, a cross from a tight angle swerved into the net despite McNicoll’s efforts to palm it away.

Farmington scored straight from kick-off, heading up the park and winning a free-kick, Nicola Davidson swinging the ball in and left back Jade McLaren stabbed the ball home for her first senior goal.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Lindsey Dunbar – Played well, work rate throughout the whole game was good

Forfar Farmington: Fiona McNicoll 5, Sydney Cairns 6, Jade McLaren 7, Murron White 6, Megan Burns 6 (Alex Russell 46, 5), Kayleigh Brough 7, Laura Parsley 7, Lindsey Dunbar 7, Amy Gallacher 7, Nicola Davidson 6, Keira Johnstone 6 (Leonie Simpson 32, 6).

Subs not used: Kayleigh Noble.

Hamilton Academical: Megan Cunningham 6 (Elaine Fleming 77, 3), Kirstin McGuire 8, Cara McBrearty 8, Clare Gemmell 8, Rachel Halliday 6 (Carolina Richardson 46, 8), Katey Turner 10 (Terri Donnelly 77, 3), Lyndsey Hogg 7, Gillian Sloey 8, Gillian Inglis 7, Lauren Leslie 7 (Sarah Laverty 66, 4), Deborah McLeod 8 (Helen Templeton 77, 4).

 

Queen’s Park 2 Forfar Farmington 2 (Scottish Women’s Premier League) 23rd March 2014

Forfar Farmington moved up to ninth in the Scottish Women’s Premier League after a 2-2 draw away to Queen’s Park at the Toryglen Football Regional Centre.

After a first half with no goals, Amy Gallacher opened the scoring for the visitors with her second senior goal before scoring again after an hour played.

With just fifteen minutes to go, Ceara McIntyre pulled a goal back for the newly promoted Queen’s Park and Valentina Mazzoni broke Farmington hearts with a equaliser in the last minute to share the points.

The result takes Farmington off bottom spot into ninth, giving them their first point of the season, as they look forward to next week when they play Hamilton Academical, who are currently tenth with no points after losses to Spartans and Glasgow City.

Airdrieonians 5 Forfar Athletic 1 (SPFL League One) 22nd March 2014

Airdrieonians       5      Forfar Athletic        1

Buchanan 13                 Hilson 39

Bain 19

Baxter og 21

Lister 50

Watt 80

Ten man Forfar Athletic were dealt a massive blow in the hunt for the play-off positions as they were beaten 5-1 by a great Airdrieonians side at the Excelsior Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Dick Campbell made two changes from last week’s win over Stranraer, Darren Hill replacing Rab Douglas after Douglas suffered a stomach strain in the warm up, Neil McCabe coming in for the injured Gavin Swankie. Loan signing Chris Duggan took a spot on the bench meanwhile Airdrie’s Nicky Cadden came in for the suspended Caolan McAleer.

Forfar threatened first with Martyn Fotheringham’s free kick troubling Grant Adam before a great passing move in the fifth minute ended in Dale Hilson cutting inside from the wing but he could only fire wide of the mark.

The Loons were dealt a blow after that, with Marvin Andrews hobbling off to be replaced by Darren Dods. Three minutes later Fotheringham hit a free kick from thirty yards that had ex-Loon Adam scrambling to make a great save.

The Diamonds took the lead in the 13th minute, a corner by Jamie Bain causing a stramash in the box and Gregor Buchanan stabbed the ball home.

Fotheringham fired straight at the keeper again before Airdrie scored twice more to make it three in the space of eight minutes. Jamie Bain scored possibly the best goal of the game in the 19th minute when he fired the ball into the top corner from long range, two minutes later Mark Baxter diverted a Jim Lister pass into his own net with Keigan Parker waiting to recieve said pass.

On the half hour mark a free kick just inside the attacking half from Iain Campbell was nodded out towards Neil McCabe and he sent a low shot straight into Adam’s arms.

The Loons were down to ten men in the 33rd minute, a 50-50 challenge between Iain Campbell and Jamie Bain with each player having their studs up, ended in Campbell being sent off.

Dale Hilson continued his recent scoring run six minutes before half time, Fotheringham giving him the ball on the halfway line, he ran past Bain, got inside the box, rounded Adam and fired home despite three defenders on the line.

HALF TIME: Airdrieonians 3 Forfar Athletic 1

Five minutes into the second half it was four for the home side, a great cross by Paddy Boyle was met by the head of Jim Lister and his header found the net via Darren Dods’ knee.

The Loons hit the post after 53 minutes, another Fotheringham corner was sent out to Mark Baxter and his low shot beat Grant Adam but came off the post and was cleared.

Airdrie took their foot off the gas after but still went close to scoring again, Parker and Craig Barr having efforts on target.

In the 75th minute Chris Templeman headed over from sub Jamie McCluskey’s free kick before Airdrie added a fifth five minutes later.

Barr split open the defence with a great through ball and Liam Watt rounded Darren Hill, slotting the ball into the empty net.

They almost added a sixth but Hill pulled off a tremendous double save from Watt and Coogans, at the other end Chris Templeman hitting the sidenetting with a good volley.

Forfar are now six points behind fourth placed Ayr United, with East Fife visiting Station Park next week, the Methil side on a high after their derby win over Dunfermline, putting them four points clear of Arbroath on the bottom.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Dale Hilson – yet again, scored and put in a great performance, despite the result.

Airdrieonians: Grant Adam 6, Craig Barr 7, Jamie Bain 8, Liam Watt 8, Gregor Buchanan 8, Stefan Milojevic 7, Nicky Cadden 7 (Lewis Coult 71, 4), Darren McCormack 7, Jim Lister 9 (Liam Coogans 84, 3), Keigan Parker 7, Paddy Boyle 7 (Grant Evans 77, 3).

Subs not used: Reece Glackin, Scott Stewart, Aiden Ward, Chris McCluskey (gk).

Forfar Athletic: Darren Hill 5, Mark Baxter 5, Iain Campbell 3, Marvin Andrews 2 (Darren Dods 4, 5), Stuart Malcolm 6, Gary Fusco 5, Omar Kader 5 (Jamie McCluskey 71, 3), Martyn Fotheringham 6, Chris Templeman 5, Neil McCabe 5, Dale Hilson 7 (Chris Duggan 75, 5).

Subs not used: Craig Smith, James Dale, Gavin Malin, Rab Douglas (gk).

Forfar Farmington 1 Hibernian Ladies 7 (Scottish Women’s Premier League) 16th March 2014

Forfar Farmington       1     Hibernian       7

Parsley 14                             Murray 18

                                              Heron 24

                                              Smith 34

                                              Fairlie 41, 80, 83 (pen)

                                              Arnot 46

Forfar Farmington started off their SWPL season with a 7-1 defeat against a strong Hibs side at Station Park, Farmington fielding an side full of under 17’s and one or two of last seasons’s squad.

With a mass exodus after previous manager Mark Nisbet’s reign, new boss Paul Whyte fielded experienced captain Nicola Davidson, Jade McLaren, Laura Parsley, Amy Gallacher, Kayleigh Noble, who had all played at some point last season along with fellow youth players Sydney Cairns, Megan Burns, Keira Johnstone, Kayleigh Brough, Katy Dickson and keeper Fiona McNicoll.

Forfar had the first opportunity in the first minute with a free kick from Nicola Davidson just outside the box that caused problems in the area but Hibs composed themselves and cleared the ball.

The visitors went close twice in the first ten minutes, with Joelle Murray and Elliss Jenkins firing over before the young Forfar side took a shock lead in the 14th minute. Amy Gallacher set up Keira Johnstone and her shot came off the bar, Laura Parsley reacting first to nod the loose ball into the net.

Gallacher had a chance to double the lead two minutes later but she was muscled off the ball as she entered the penalty area.

Hibs equalised after 18 minutes with a great free kick, Cairns fouling Elizabeth Arnot on the edge of the box and Murray stepped up to curl the ball past McNicoll, who got a touch to the ball but not enough to stop it.

It was 2-1 to the Edinburgh outfit six minutes later, a through ball finding their summer signing from Farmington, striker Caroline Heron who beat a defender before firing the ball home.

Jenkins, Heron and Rachel Walkingshaw all saw efforts fly off target before they then added a third, Jenkins involved again in an attack when her shot wasn’t cleared properly and Kirsty Smith found the top corner with a shot from long range.

Susan Fairlie grabbed her first of the afternoon in the 42nd minute, stabbing home from a Jenkins cross.

HALF TIME: Forfar Farmington 1 Hibernian 4

Less than sixty seconds into the second half Arnot scored Hibs fifth of the afternoon, scoring from long range again.

Amy Gallacher, arguably the home side’s best player of the game, had two efforts in quick succession blocked, the second one from long range.

In the 54th minute after a counter attack Elliss Jenkinssaw her shot come off the post before being cleared.

Another ex-Forfar player, Katey Turner had three consectutive chances on goal but couldn’t convert any of them whereas at the other end Gallacher forced Shannon Lynn into a great save from long range again.

Hibs scored a sixth under controversial circumstances with ten minutes to go, Fairlie racing clear again, McNicoll saving her first shot but when the ball was sent back in, an offside looking Fairlie tapped the ball into an empty net for her second.

Fairlie had her hat trick goal three minutes later, a cross from her found Sarah Laverty, her shot was saved but Sydney Cairns was adjudged to handle the loose ball, Fairlie scoring the penalty that was awarded.

Despite the scoreline, the Farmington side shouldn’t be ashamed of their performance, most of the side making their SWPL debut. Next week they face a trip to Glasgow to play newly promoted side Queen’s Park.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Amy Gallacher, she looks a great player at just 15, had a fair amount of chances and was unlucky not to score.

Forfar Farmington: Fiona McNicoll 5, Sydney Cairns 6, Jade McLaren 7, Kayleigh Brough 6, Megan Burns 6, Keira Johnstone 6 (Alex Russell 57, 4), Laura Parsley 7, Amy Gallacher 8, Nicola Davidson 6, Kayleigh Noble 5, Katy Dickson 6.

Subs not used: Murron White, Leonie Simpson (gk).

Hibernian: Shannon Lynn 7, Kayleigh McConnell 6, Frankie Brown 7 (Tiffany Kawana-Waugh 56, 5), Siobhan Hunter 6, Elizabeth Arnot 7 (Zoe Johnstone 56, 5), Caroline Heron 7 (Katey Turner 64, 6), Kirsty Smith 7, Elliss Jenkins 8 (Lucy Graham 64, 5), Joelle Murray 7, Rachel Walkingshaw 6 (Sarah Laverty 64, 5), Susan Fairlie 10.

Subs not used: Claire Williamson, Hannah Reid (gk).

Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 0 (SPFL League One) 15th March 2014

Forfar Athletic      1        Stranraer        0

Hilson 15

Forfar Athletic are still in the play-off hunt after the second win this week against a struggling Stranraer, this time winning 1-0 at Station Park on Saturday.

With Darren Dods suspended, Stuart Malcolm came into the starting XI in what was the only change for Forfar.

Stranraer started off strongly, with Steven Bell firing over from long range before a long clearance by keeper David Mitchell reached Jamie Longworth but his effort was cleared off the line by Marvin Andrews in the fifth minute.

Malcolm nodded wide from an Iain Campbell free kick in the sixth minute and nine minutes later, The Loons were ahead. Dale Hilson picked the ball up on the right side of the box, beat a defender, before taking the ball past him again, dancing past another two Stranraer players and curling the ball past David Mitchell at the near post for his tenth goal of the season.

Just after twenty minutes Scott Rumsby headed over before Rab Douglas parried a close range Sean Winter shot and then saved the follow up header.

Stranraer started to press as they then had a chance from Grant Gallagher saved before Jamie Longworth hot the sidenetting after dodgy defending.

The Loons had the ball in the net just before half time, Omar Kader netting after a good passing move but the stand side linesman bizarrely judged him to be offside.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 0

Straight from kick off Iain Campbell made Mitchell nervous with a shot from inside his own half that the wind carried towards goal, Mitchell gathering close to his line.

Forfar were enjoying the majority of chances in the second half, with Swankie, Iain Campbell, Fotheringham and Malcolm all going close in the space of ten minutes.

In the 64th minute Jamie Longworth fired wide whilst at the other end nine minutes later Craig Smith set up Hilson, who saw his shot fly just over the bar.

In the 80th minute Marvin Andrews was unlucky to score as his goalbound effort was blocked by a defender, while two minutes after Stuart Malcolm sent a ball to Templeman, who set up Hilson again and his run ended in a shot across goal going just past the post.

Ex-Loon Martin Grehan collected a loose ball just outside the box after 84 minutes but he sclaffed his shot wide whereas Andy Stirling fired straight at Rab Douglas.

Dale Hilson’s free kick from just inside the attacking half almost went in in injury time, but David Mitchell had to be sharp to tip the ball over. From this corner Gavin Malin raced into the box, cut the ball back for Smith and his shot cannoned off the cross bar before being cleared as the ref blew the final whistle.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Dale Hilson – yet again, another great performance

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas 7, Mark Baxter 6, Iain Campbell 6, Marvin Andrews 6, Stuart Malcolm 7, Gary Fusco 6, Omar Kader 6 (Craig Smith 69, 5), Martyn Fotheringham 6 (Gavin Malin 69, 4), Chris Templeman 6, Gavin Swankie 6 (James Dale 75, 3), Dale Hilson 8.

Subs not used: Neil McCabe, James McCluskey, Paul McLellan, Darren Hill (gk).

Stranraer: David Mitchell 5, David McGregor 6, Mark Docherty 6, Scott Rumsby 6, Frank McKeown 7, Steven Bell 6, Sean Winter 6 (Ryan Borris 75, 3), Grant Gallagher 6, Martin Grehan 6, Jamie Longworth 6 (Adam Forde 84, 1), Andy Stirling 7.

Subs not used: David McKenna, Lloyd Kinnaird, Stephen Stirling, Chris Fahey (gk)

Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 4 (SPFL League One) 11th March 2014

Stranraer       0     Forfar Athletic     4

                              Hilson 8

                              Kader 36

                              Fotheringham 59 pen

                              Swankie 68

Forfar Athletic’s long midweek journey to Stranraer was rewarded with a thumping 4-0 win and one of the performances of the season, playing for 67 minutes with ten men at Stair Park.

The Loons made three changes for the near 400 mile round trip, with Martyn Fotheringham returning to the heart of midfield in Neil McCabe’s place while Omar Kader and Marvin Andrews replaced Ross Campbell and Stuart Malcolm.

The game started off evenly, with Gavin Swankie dragging his effort wide inside the box in the second minute before Stranraer’s Sean Winter blasted his shot over the bar.

Forfar took the lead in the eighth minute, great play ending in Gavin Swankie swinging a cross in for Dale Hilson, whose header was parried by David Mitchell and Hilson reacted quickest to stab home the loose ball to the joy of the seven Loons fans.

Marvin Andrews sent a header wide of the mark in the seventeenth minute from an Iain Campbell corner as Forfar started to press before they were unfairly reduced to ten men.

Darren Dods looked to have blocked a Stranraer attacker after misjudging his backtracking and stumbling slightly and ref Don Robertson deemed that to be worthy of a red card, the sending off bemusing even the Stranraer bench. The Loons switched to a 4-4-1 formation with Fusco moving to centre back and Gavin Swankie in midfield.

In the 25th minute ex-Loon Martin Grehan should have scored but fired over from inside the six yard box after an Andy Stirling corner.

Four minutes later David McKenna shot past the post from a well placed cross by Mark Docherty.

Martyn Fotheringham had an effort blocked and a free kick go over the bar before the away side doubled their lead in the 36th minute, Dale Hilson doing well to turn a defender before getting a shot away, the shot was blocked but Omar Kader latched onto the ball and put it past Mitchell for his third of the season.

HALF TIME: Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 2

The Stair Park side came out for the second half looking to get back into the game and had a few chances in the opening ten minutes of the half, Scott Robertson, Grant Gallagher and Andy Stirling all going close.

The Loons were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute after Dale Hilson was bundled over in the area and Martyn Fotheringham sent keeper David Mitchell the wrong way to add a third.

Nine minutes later it was 4-0 and Hilson had a hand in it again, setting up Gavin Swankie for a long range effort that decieved Mitchell, who fumbled the ball into the net.

After this the game calmed down, with Forfar enjoying the majority of possession  and the only chance of note came in the 78th minute from Stranraer’s Stirling, forcing Rab Douglas into a great save. From that corner Stranraer should have scored from close range but Douglas gathered with ease.

The sides meet again this Saturday, with Stranraer making the journey up to Station Park. The Loons are now just three points off fourth place and the play-off spots.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Dale Hilson – was involved in some way in all four goals, definitely his best ever season at the club

Stranraer: David Mitchell 4, Lloyd Kinnaird 4 (Jamie Longworth 53, 4), Mark Docherty 5, Scott Rumsby 5, David MacGregor 5, Scott Robertson 5, Sean Winter 5, Grant Gallagher 5, Martin Grehan 5 (Adam Forde 65, 3), David McKenna 5, Andy Stirling 7.

Subs not used: Stephen Stirling, Steven Bell, Chris Fahey (gk)

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas 7, Mark Baxter 7, Iain Campbell 7, Marvin Andrews 8, Darren Dods 4, Gary Fusco 8, Omar Kader 8 (Jamie McCluskey 80, 2), Martyn Fotheringham 7 (James Dale 60, 5), Chris Templeman 8, Gavin Swankie 9, Dale Hilson 10 (Gavin Malin 85, 2).

Subs not used: Ross Campbell, Stuart Malcolm, Neil McCabe, Darren Hill (gk).

Forfar Athletic 1 Brechin City 1 (SPFL League One) 8th March 2014

Forfar Athletic        1      Brechin City       1

Hilson 52                          Jackson 73

Forfar Athletic are now six points off fourth spot in Legaue One after a lacklustre derby with Brechin City ended one all at Station Park.

The Loons stuck with the same starting eleven that beat Ayr 3-2 in midweek whilst Brechin made four changes to their side, injuries ravaging their defence.

City got off to the better start, with Ryan Ferguson and Andy Jackson firing over in the first ten minutes before at the other end Dale Hilson shot wide from an excellent move between him, Iain Campbell and Gavin Swankie in the fourteenth minute.

Ex-City midfielder Gary Fusco was laid off by Hilson a minute later but his effort was blocked before it reached the keeper while the visitors’ Robert Thomson blasted over.

Allan Walker forced Rab Douglas into a good save in the 18th minute from long range then fired over five minutes later.

Brechin piled on the pressure near the half hour mark with Craig Molloy and Thomson again seeing their efforts go over.

The Loons had their best chance of the half a minute before half time when Gavin Swankie raced clear down the right before squaring for Dale Hilson inside the box, Hilson took the ball past Graham Hay but could only send his shot into the direction of the oncoming Graeme Smith.

From this, Brechin had an even better chance, Allan Walker’s shot beating Rab Douglas but cannoning off the inside of the post before being cleared.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 0 Brechin City 0

Forfar took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Chris Templeman’s flick on found Hilson, who ran at the Brechin defence before firing a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box for his eighth of the season.

Chris Templeman nodded at Graeme Smith in the 57th minute before heading wide a minute later.

In the 71st minute Brechin almost equalised after a cross from Steven Jackson came off Darren Dods and found sub Alan Trouten, but he could only drag his effort wide.

Two minutes later a poor passback by Ross Campbell was picked up by Andy Jackson who raced clear before threading the ball past Rab Douglas.

The game was a drab affair for the last fifteen minutes, with the closest anyone came to scoring was Gavin Swankie’s long range effort in the last minute that went wide.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Gavin Swankie

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas 6, Mark Baxter 6, Iain Campbell 6, Stuart Malcolm 6 (Marvin Andrews 56, 4), Darren Dods 6, Gary Fusco 6, Ross Campbell 5, Neil McCabe 5 (Martyn Fotheringham 59, 2 (James Dale 69, 3)), Chris Templeman 6, Gavin Swankie 7, Dale Hilson 7.

Subs not used: Gavin Malin, Jamie McCluskey, Omar Kader, Darren Hill (gk).

Brechin City: Graeme Smith 6, Steven Jackson 7, Darren Petrie 7, Graham Hay 6, Gerry McLauchlan 6, Greg Cameron 6 (Alan Trouten 59, 4), Ryan Ferguson 6, Allan Walker 6, Andy Jackson 7, Craig Molloy 6, Robert Thomson 6 (Bobby Barr 69, 4).

Subs not used: Steven Robb, Ben Tough (gk), Craig Nelson (gk).

History of Forfar Athletic: Played For Both Sides XI

Forfar Athletic and Brechin City have had quite a lot of players to play for both sides in the last fifteen years that you could fill a squad, which is what my article in the Forfar Athletic programme ‘Played For Both Sides’ will be doing this week so I thought it would be a good idea to put on here as well.

In goal, Stuart Garden, Garden spending four years at Brechin between 1995 and 1999 before moving to the Loons and then earning himself a move to England in 2001. Stuart is now manager of fellow Angus side Montrose.

At right back David McClune, who was a midfielder at Station Park between 2003 and 2006 but has played right back more than in midfield since his later days at Alloa, as well as during his year stay at Brechin in the 2011-2012 season. McClune now plays in League Two with Stirling Albion.

On the other side of the defence Scott MacNicol, who spent less than a year in total at both clubs. He joined The Loons in March of 2004 and was well liked by the fans in his 12 appearances before a six month stay at Glebe Park the next season. MacNicol moved back to his native Australia after leaving City.

Scott McCulloch and Steve Hamilton could make up the central pairing in defence, McCulloch spending just over twelve months at each club between March 2002 and October 2004 whilst Hamilton joined Forfar in the summer of 2004 before moving without playing a single game in September to Brechin, where he stayed until the summer of 2006.

In midfield players such as Kevin Byers, Kevin McLeish and Charlie King have appeared for both sides. Kevin Byers joined the Loons in 2001 for a three year spell where he made 116 appearances before moving to Glebe Park. He stayed at Brechin for seven seasons before rejoining Forfar for another season, leaving in the summer of 2012 to drop to the juniors.

Kevin McLeish spent 18 months at Brechin, arriving in the summer of 2003 before signing for Berwick in January 2005 after failing to make an impact at the club. Three and a half years later Dick Campbell had signed him again, this time for Forfar. In his single season at the club he ended the club’s poor home form, where they had failed to win for almost half the season, with a goal that you can now find on YouTube. He is now at Bonnyrigg Rose.

Charlie King is a legend around Brechin, having spent eleven years at the club, making over 300 appearances. His time at the club came to an end in 2012 after then manager Jim Weir decided to release him, much to the fans’ disappointment. He wasn’t without a club for long though, with Dick Campbell signing him for the second time, this time for Forfar. King was released in the summer of 2013 and is now player/manager of Brechin Vics.

There have been numerous strikers to play for each sides in the past fifteen years, Graham Gibson, Andy Jackson and Chris Templeman to name some, others include Ian Harty, Paul McManus and Ben Honeyman. Ian Harty spent 2009-2010 at both clubs, originally signing for Brechin in the pre-season but was sent on loan to the Loons in October of that year before signing permanently after his release by Brechin. He left Forfar at the end of the season after helping them to play-off promotion.

Paul McManus spent a season at Brechin during 2011-2012, being their top scorer before joining Forfar a year later, signing this summer past. His time at Station Park was short, as he left in January to help Arbroath battle relegation.

Ben Honeyman had a six year combined spell at both sides, with a short spell at East Fife inbetween in 1999. The Australian signed for Forfar from Dundee United in 1996, and made a quick impression, scoring 18 goals in his debut season. By the time he left for East Fife he had scored 38 goals in 106 appearances and six months later was returning to Angus, this time to Glebe Park. He spent just under three seasons at Brechin but played only half as much as he had at Forfar, this time playing just over fifty times and scoring seventeen times.

After this, Honeyman had a short stint as player/manager of Arniston Rangers at the young age of 28 in 2005 before giving up the game to play cricket.