Buchan 2 Forfar Farmington 1 (SWPL) 31st August 2014

Buchan                                 2

Donna Paterson 3, Vanessa Silcocks 76 pen

Forfar Farmington           1

Nicky Grant 27

Forfar Farmington were dealt a blow in their SWPL battle when they were beaten 2-1 by bottom side Buchan in Maud on Sunday.

The side were forced to play midfielder Lindsey Dunbar in goals, who other than the goals had very little to do, because of a late goalkeeping situation, with Fiona McNicoll, Leonie Simpson and Hannah Dryden unavailable. The only two changes from the draw last week were Murron White and Kayleigh Brough coming in to take Dunbar’s spot in the middle of the park and Claire Galloway’s in defence. Manager Paul White was also unavailable so coach Damon Neish took charge for the game.

Farmington had the first chance of the game when Alana Bruce lashed wide from inside the box but it was the league strugglers who took the lead in the 3^rd minute, Donna Paterson swinging at the ball from 25 yards, the effort going into the top corner giving Dunbar no chance.

The visitors soon settled and went looking for an equaliser, but were unlucky when Kayleigh Noble played Megan Burns down the left wing and her cross looked to cause bother in the box but Holly Napier was inches from getting her toes to it.

Noble went close herself in the 23^rd minute, her long range drive being saved by Jodie Kennedy. At the other end Lydia Johnston’s shot after being set up by Louise Brown was pushed onto the bar by Dunbar.

Forfar equalised in the 27^th minute when Nicky Grant’s 30 yard free kick flew into the top corner for her seventh goal in six games.

Amy Gallacher fired straight at the keeper on the half hour mark and went even closer five minutes later, Noble’s corner was nodded off the line by a defender but after the ball wasn’t cleared properly, Gallacher’s shot cannoned off the bar.

They almost took the lead three minutes into the second half, Sydney Cairns found Nicky Grant who cut the ball inside for Gallacher, her shot was saved well by Kennedy.

Johnston was through on goal for Buchan in the 58^th minute, the striker was crowded out by Dunbar and Cairns and her shot was deflected wide for a corner.

In the 73^rd minute Buchan should have been down to ten players, Vanessa Silcocks bringing down Nicky Grant when she was the last woman but ref Morag Pirie decided that it was only worth a yellow in one of several poor decisions.

Three minutes later Pirie gave a penalty when she decided that Alana Bruce fouled Danica Ritchie inside the box. Despite Lindsey Dunbar’s best efforts, the aforementioned Silcocks fired home.

Forfar went close to an equaliser in the 83^rd minute, Caren Webster setting up Alex Russell but her shot was parried away before being cleared.

Farmington were reduced to ten women in injury time, sub Webster receiving her second yellow in five minutes for trying to get the ball off a Buchan attacker who was trying to waste time in the corner.

The side now hope to bounce back next week when they entertain Inverness City at Station Park.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Just for the fact she had to play in goals and has never done so before, doing quite well, Lindsey Dunbar.

Forfar Farmington: Lindsey Dunbar 7, Sydney Cairns 6, Megan Burns 6, Murron White 6 (Caren Webster 53, 5), Jade McLaren 7, Kayleigh Brough 6, Holly Napier 6, Nicky Grant 7, Amy Gallacher 6, Kayleigh Noble 6 (Alex Russell 64, 5), Alana Bruce 6.

Forfar Athletic 3 Greenock Morton 2 (SPFL League One) 30th August 2014

Forfar Athletic                  3

Gavin Swankie 19, 71, Danny Denholm 52

Greenock Morton           2

Declan McManus 37, Reece Hands 88

Forfar Athletic defeated their second League One full time side at home in two games on Saturday, beating Greenock Morton 3-2 in a game that wasn’t as tight as the scoreline suggests.

Aaron James and Chris Templeman missed out through injury, with Mark Baxter and Omar Kader taking their places in the starting eleven.

The game started off slowly, with neither side really having a chance until the 12^th minute, Kader’s cross being nodded out towards Stephen Husband by the defence and as he prepared to shoot, the ball was nicked off his toes. Four minutes later at the other end Joe McKee sent a low shot wide of the mark from the edge of the box.

Forfar opened the scoring after 19 minutes, Husband winning the ball in midfield and then sending a lofted ball into the box for Gavin Swankie to chest down before sending a half volley into the bottom corner out of Derek Gaston’s reach.

Thomas O’Ware missed a sitter just before the half hour mark, Declan McManus knocking the ball towards him but O’Ware sliced his shot over the bar from close range.

They equalised in the 37^th minute, Danny Denholm lost the ball on the edge of his own box and it allowed McManus to slot home under Douglas.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 1 Greenock Morton 1

The Loons took the lead again seven minutes into the second half, Swankie becoming the architect this time as he glided his way past the Morton right back before cutting the ball back for Denholm to slot home and make up for his earlier mistake.

Less than a minute later it was almost 3-1 with a very similar chance, Swankie getting the beating of the number two time and time again, his cut back to Denholm saw the winger’s backheel saved by Gaston.

Denholm and Hilson combined well in the 64^th minute, the latter receiving the ball from Denholm’s drive forward but his shot was pushed away well by the keeper.

Forfar gave Morton some more bad news when they further extended their lead with nineteen minutes to go, a great clearance by Michael Dunlop found Swankie and as he advanced on Gaston he fired home for his second of the game.

Dunlop then had a chance of his own in the 78^th minute, flashing a header wide of the mark from a Husband cross.

Rab Douglas held a McKee free kick easily in a rare Morton chance while Dunlop almost set up another goal with a clearance, this time Hilson ran onto it but when he was one on one with the keeper, his shot was parried.

The Greenock side grabbed an undeserved second with two minutes to go to make the final moments of the game very nervy for the Loons after last week’s late goals. A Mark Russell shot was parried by Douglas but Reece Hands was there to stab the ball home ten minutes after coming on.

They had the final chance of the game and could have equalised if it wasn’t for the largely ineffective McManus wasting his chance and firing straight at Douglas.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Gavin Swankie – Ripped the Morton defence to bits time and time again.

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas 6, Michael Dunlop 7, Mark Baxter 6, Stuart Malcolm 6, Darren Dods 6, Stephen Husband 6 (James Dale 78, 3), Omar Kader 6 (Craig Smith 81, 2), Derek Young 7, Dale Hilson 7, Gavin Swankie 9, Danny Denholm 6 (Martyn Fotheringham 81, 2)

Subs not used: Gavin Malin, Andrew Steeves, Liam Keiller, Ross Salmon (gk)

Greenock Morton: Derek Gaston, Lee Kilday, Ricki Lamie, Michael Miller (Mark Russell 67), Sean Crighton, Stefan Milojevic, Joe McKee, Connor Pepper, Declan McManus, Thomas O’Ware (Reece Hands 77), Stefan McCluskey(David McNeil 79)

Subs not used: Jordan Allan, Jon Scullion, Nicolas Caraux (gk)

Interview with Forfar Farmington’s Jade McLaren

Jade McLaren in action in the recent Scottish Cup tie against Spartans

Forfar Farmington defender Jade McLaren says she didn’t take the fact that she didn’t get called up for the Scotland under 17’s recently to heart, instead using it to pinpoint aspects of her game she felt she has to improve.

The 16 year old centre back, who started her career at St Andrews Soccerettes six years ago, has been at Farmington since last season, joining up with the under 17’s from Dundee United Social Club where she played with fellow SWPL players Lindsey Dunbar and Amy Gallacher. She hasn’t always been a defender, starting off as a striker then a midfielder before her current position. McLaren also played for the Scottish Schools team last year which were successful with a double trophy win.

On the Scotland snub, she said ‘Missing out on the Scotland call up, I personally didn’t take it too much to heart as I seen it as a way of finding out the main aspects of my performance that I need to improve; since then I have gone on to train more and have been looking to improve certain aspects of my game to become a better player all round!’

‘I’m now developing speed programmes to be quicker on and off the ball, making my intensity of play 10x better. I think my strengths as a player is that I’m vocal on and off the pitch, I’m quite an aggressive player I would say but technically I would say I could improve a lot, like my first touch, amongst other things.’ 

All credit to Amy Gallacher for her call up, I wish her the best of luck and to smash it whilst away!’

The talented McLaren believes that she has improved so much from playing in the Premier League, where she made her debut in August last year ‘Last season being asked to play for the first team whilst playing for the 17s was a big achievement for me although I do wish I grabbed the opportunity a lot sooner than I did.’

‘I take it as a huge honour to be playing in the Premier League at such a young age but I think moving into the SWPL this year was a good choice because I have improved so much on my performance and my attitude towards training just from playing up a level. I’d like to thank Alana Bruce, Nicky Grant and Nicola Davidson for taking me into the Premier squad last season and helping me to improve.’

She has missed just one game this season when a call up for a Performance Camp saw her miss the 9-2 victory over Claremont in the Scottish Cup, but has chipped in with two goals in her fifteen games and despite a struggling start, reckons that the side is now coming on leaps and bounds ‘I think over the first half of the season that was just us getting to other and starting to play as a team. The second half was what we were really focusing on and since the league restarted in July I believe we have come on leaps and bounds as individual players and as a team.’

‘I think this season I had to step up as one of the more vocal ones in the team because of my insight into the league towards the end of last season and I would think I’ve been successful in doing so. I hope, as does everyone else, that we stay up in the league and go on to challenge the bigger teams next season!’

Forfar Farmington v Hutchison Vale programme, 24th August 2014

I had created a programme for Sunday past’s game against Hutchison Vale but unfortunately it wasn’t printed, so I thought I would post what I had up on here for people to see.

 

 

Forfar Farmington 2 Hutchison Vale 2 (SWPL) 24th August 2014

Forfar Farmington           2

Kayleigh Noble 3, Amy Gallacher 17

Hutchison Vale                 2

Laura Gavin 57 pen, Bryony Ross 79

Forfar Farmington dropped two points in the Scottish Women’s Premier League when visitors Hutchison Vale came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Station Park.

Just one change was made from last week’s defeat in the cup against Spartans, with captain Nicola Davidson unavailable, Paul White brought in Claire Galloway, a former player for the side a couple of years ago.

Farmington took the lead after just three minutes, Kayleigh Noble firing home from just inside the box. Ten minutes later Holly Napier saw her shot from Noble’s corner hit the bar as Forfar looked the more dangerous of the sides.

They doubled their advantage in the 17^th minute, Amy Gallacher sending a fantastic 20 yard effort into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

Hutchison Vale went close twice around the 25 minute mark before Noble almost grabbed her second, dispossessing a defender but her shot went wide of the post.

Defender Sydney Cairns fired over from long range, while at the other end Vale hit the post, with the rebound blasted over the bar when it was easier to score.

HALF TIME: Forfar Farmington 2 Hutchison Vale 0

Nicky Grant went close less than a minute into the second half, her and Amy Gallacher combining but Grant sent her shot over the bar.

Hutchison Vale pulled a goal back in the 57^th minute after Alana Bruce fouled the Vale attacker inside the box, Laura Gavin firing the spot kick home.

Two minutes later Bruce sent a shot straight at the keeper, as did Gallacher. A Forfar counter attack in the 72^nd minute saw some excellent skill from the Scotland under 17 striker, weaving her way past three defenders but her final product was pushed wide by Ashley Watson. The resultant corner from Noble was nodded wide by Jade McLaren.

The visitors grabbed an equaliser with ten minutes left, Bryony Ross taking a cross down before knocking it past McNicoll.

Forfar had a claim for a penalty in the final moments of the game when Claire Galloway was shoved inside the box but the referee decided no foul took place.

Hutchison Vale were reduced to ten women in the 90^th minute, Michelle Russell, who had only been on the field for nine minutes, was shown a straight red for foul and abusive language.

The side stays in tenth place in the table but is now only one point ahead of Queen’s Park and is seven behind Hutchison Vale and Inverness City. They now play Buchan next week in Maud, the same ground where they beat them 4-0 earlier this season and will hope for a similar result.

Fiona McNicoll, Alana Bruce, Megan Burns, Claire Galloway, Jade McLaren, Sydney Cairns, Holly Napier, Amy Gallacher, Lindsey Dunbar (Murron White 46), Kayleigh Noble, Nicky Grant.

Subs not used: Kayleigh Brough, Alex Russell, Derrian Gollan, Leonie Simpson

Ayr United 2 Forfar Athletic 0 (SPFL League One) 23rd August 2014

Ayr United                          2

Scott McLaughlin 85, 88 pen

Forfar Athletic                  0

Forfar Athletic suffered their first league loss of the season when they were defeated by two goals in an end to end game by early leaders Ayr United at Somerset Park.

No changes were made from last week’s win over Dunfermline but that lasted three minutes, Aaron James colliding with an attacker, the defender having to be stretchered off and replaced by Mark Baxter.

Before that Ayr almost opened the scoring, Brian Gilmour spraying the ball out to Alan Forrest but Rab Douglas did well to block the youngster from netting.

After eight minutes Forfar had their first chance, Baxter swinging in a cross that Stephen Husband nodded past the post before Gavin Swankie’s 30 yard strike was well held by David Hutton.

Dale Hilson then sliced the ball over just before at the other end, Jon Paul McGovern’s effort was nodded over the bar by Michael Dunlop, the resultant corner coming to nothing.

In the 23^rd minute Forrest hooked his shot wide as he looked to impress the watching Scotland under 19’s manager Ricky Sbragia.

On the half hour mark Husband’s cross was nodded out towards Derek Young who lashed wide before Dale Hilson’s run down the wing towards goal almost created a chance if it wasn’t for Kevin McKinlay blocking him.

Seconds before half time Michael Donald swung a cross in that was met by Nicky Devlin at the back post but his header across goal had no takers and went out of play.

HALF TIME: Ayr United 0 Forfar Athletic 0

Scott McLaughlin tried his luck a minute into the second half but couldn’t keep his long range effort down.

Chances were non-existant until the 66^th minute, Forrest setting up Peter Murphy but he saw his shot deflected over and the corner was punched away easily.

Forrest went close for the Honest Men again, a minute before a Forfar attack ended in Denholm’s shot being blocked, and the follow up from Hilson was cleared.

The Loons went the closest either side had to scoring with 13 minutes to go, sub Omar Kader’s cross was knocked towards goal by Danny Denholm, Hutton couldn’t save properly and a defender had to clear off the line.

Ayr took the lead with five minutes to go, a long ball found Dale Shirkie but Rab Douglas blocked his shot, the defence didn’t clear properly and McLaughlin took great delight in firing the ball home from the edge of the box.

They doubled their lead in the 88^th minute, McLaughlin grabbing his second from the spot after Omar Kader bundled over Forrest.

Ayr United: David Hutton, Nicky Devlin, Michael Donald, Kevin McKinlay, Peter Murphy, Brian Gilmour (Sean McKenzie 80), Alan Forrest, Scott McLaughlin, Ryan Donnelly, Jon Paul McGovern, Peter McGill (Dale Shirkie 65)

Subs not used: Josh McArthur, Mark Roberts, Andrew Muir, Shaun Newman (gk)

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas, Michael Dunlop, Aaron James (Mark Baxter 7), Stuart Malcolm, Darren Dods, Stephen Husband, Dale Hilson (James Dale 83), Derek Young, Chris Templeman (Omar Kader 66), Gavin Swankie, Danny Denholm.

Subs not used: Gavin Malin, Martyn Fotheringham, Andrew Steeves, Ross Salmon (gk)

Interview with Forfar Farmington’s Keira Johnstone

You suffered a serious injury in March, how frustrating was it for it to happen so soon after the start of the season?

It was very frustrating as I had just completed my pre season training and was really looking forward to playing in the SWPL.

 

Was it difficult seeing your teammates suffer defeats like the ones at Glasgow City and Spartans when you were on the sidelines?

Yes, it was hard to watch as the team was so young and was short of players although they never let their heads go down and they always gave 100%.

 

You returned to playing for Farmington in July in a friendly against Motherwell, how was it finally playing again?

After being out for 4 months it felt amazing being back on the pitch with my teammates.  As soon as I got my first tackle out of the way it helped to regain my confidence.

 

Last week you were with the CYP squad that won the Rose Bowl beating England, N Ireland and Wales, congratulations on doing so but you came back from that with a knock, are you disappointed to be out for a couple of weeks at a time when you are trying to get back to full fitness?

Winning the tournament was a great achievement and I was happy to play in all 3 games.  Unfortunately during my last game I picked up another injury which I’m gutted about although hopefully I won’t be out for too long.

 

What are your hopes and aims for yourself as well as the SWPL side for the rest of the season?

I hope to be back playing fully fit as soon as possible as I want to help the team avoid relegation.

Interview with Forfar Farmington’s Amy Gallacher

I wrote an article for this week’s Forfar Dispatch and thought I would include it on here for others to see that don’t live in the area the paper is sold.

Forfar Farmington striker Amy Gallacher was surprised to receive a call up to the Scotland under 17’s set up last week as she believes there are a lot of good players out there who could have gotten into the squad to face Italy in Perugia on the 3^rd and 5^th September.

The highly rated 15 year old has been at Forfar for almost 2 years, having joined them from Dundee United Sports Club, where she had been since the age of eight at under 11 level alongside fellow Farmington players Lindsey Dunbar and Jade McLaren.

About the call up Gallacher said ‘I’m really excited about the call up because it’s a great feeling playing for your country and it’s a chance to play against one of the best teams in the world at that level.’

She has experienced call ups before, having played for the under 15’s in Germany, the under 16’s against Luxembourg, where she scored, and in Portugal. She has also played for the Scottish Schools under 15’s, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 hammering of England and the goal that won them the Bob Docherty tournament last April.

She added ‘I wasn’t really expecting the call up at all because there are a lot of good players out there that could have got in!’

Gallacher believes that Forfar Farmington have improved very well as of late, with the side being narrowly defeated in two of their last five games against sides that won comfortably earlier this season ‘I think the start of the season was really hard playing against the best teams in the league, especially with how young our team is (the side has three or four players over the age of eighteen) but we have improved as a team really well over the 2nd half of the season and the two new coaches Logan and Damon have come in and really helped us a lot. Hopefully that now means we can stay in the league and get as many points as we can!’

The talented attacker, with five goals in fourteen appearances this season, added that she thinks playing in the SWPL side has helped her improve massively and earn the call up ‘At first I found it hard because it was so different from playing at under 17 level but I think as the season has gone on it’s really helped me improve and the older players in the team have really helped.’

Forfar Farmington 2 Spartans 5 (Scottish Cup 3rd Round) 17th August 2014

Forfar Farmington           2

Lindsey Dunbar 25, Nicky Grant 51

Spartans                           5

Katie Reilly 29, 85, Kerry Montgomery 39, Sarah Ewens 87, 90

Three goals in the last five minutes saw Forfar Farmington lose 5-2 to Spartans in the 3^rd round of the Scottish Cup, despite a very good performance at an extremely wet and windy Station Park.

Two changes were made from last week’s win over Queen’s Park, Leonie Simpson came in for the cup tied Hannah Dryden and Nicky Grant returned to take Murron White’s place, White being unavailable.

Spartans spurned the first chances of the game in the opening ten minutes, with Trish McLaughlin, Louise Mason and Sarah Ewens three times all going close.

Forfar took a while to get into the game but when they did, they were rewarded with the lead in the 25^th minute, Alana Bruce’s throw in being flicked on by Nicky Grant and Lindsey Dunbar weaved her way past a defender before slotting home through the legs of the Spartans keeper.

The visitors equalised four minutes later when Katie Reilly bulleted home a header from Alana Marshall’s corner. They took the lead after 39 minutes, Kerry Montgomery taking advantage of the wind to swerve a ball over the top of Leonie Simpson from 30 yards.

HALF TIME: Forfar Farmington 1 Spartans 2

Farmington equalised six minutes into the second half, Kayleigh Noble knocked the ball to Grant who turned and hit a beautiful shot that gave the keeper no chance from 25 yards.

On the hour mark the young side almost took the lead, a poor pass in defence fell to Noble but her shot was well saved by Rachel Harrison. A minute later Nicky Grant fired straight at the keeper but her shot lacked power.

Leonie Simpson made a good save from Claire Crosbie before doing the same in the 70^th minute when Ewens was clean through.

They took the lead with five minutes left, Kirsty McLaughlin’s free kick being nodded home by Reilly for her second of the afternoon.

Alex Russell almost grabbed an instant equaliser but her shot from Amy Gallacher’s knock back flew past the post.

Less than sixty seconds later that miss was punished when Simpson took too much time with a loose ball, when she did kick the ball out it cannoned off the oncoming Ewens who took great delight in stabbing the ball into an empty net.

Forfar never gave up hunting for another goal, Holly Napier almost deceiving Harrison from 30 yards, her lob floating over the bar.

In the dying seconds Spartans added a fifth, Simpson parrying Kirsty McLaughlin’s shot into the path of Ewens who tapped home for her second.

The scoreline was harsh on the side as the game was tighter than it suggests, with the performance night and day compared to the 16-0 defeat they suffered the last time the sides met in April. They now look to the league next Sunday when they take on Hutchison Vale at Station Park, kick off for that is at 2pm.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Nicky Grant

Forfar Farmington: Leonie Simpson 7, Sydney Cairns 8, Megan Burns 7 (Alex Russell 69, 5), Jade McLaren 7, Lindsey Dunbar 7 (Cheryl Kilcoyne 90, 1), Nicky Grant 8, Amy Gallacher 7, Nicola Davidson 7, Alana Bruce 7, Holly Napier 7, Kayleigh Noble 7.

Spartans: Rachel Harrison, Ashley Harrison (Kirsty McLaughlin 69), Ciara Barnes, Trisha McLaughlin, Alana Marshall, Louise Mason (Claire Crosbie 58), Katie Reilly, Sarah Ewens, Suzy Shepherd, Steph Briggs, Kerry Montgomery.

Subs not used: Bobbie Beveridge, Tracy Donachie, Kirsty Hamilton, Christie Kerr, Danni Pagliarulo.

Forfar Athletic 2 Dunfermline Athletic 0 (SPFL League One) 16th August 2014

Forfar Athletic                  2

Dale Hilson 57, Darren Dods 73

Dunfermline Athletic    0

 

Forfar Athletic got their home league campaign off to a flier with a convincing 2-0 victory over title favourites Dunfermline Athletic.

After last week’s draw down at Stranraer, Dick Campbell made three changes, with Darren Dods and Stephen Husband returning from suspensions while Gavin Swankie recovered from illness to replace Andrew Steeves, Gavin Malin and James Dale, who all took a place on the bench.

The Loons had the first chance of the match when Gavin Swankie fired over from just inside the box after two minutes. Up at the other end 60 seconds later Pars defender Jonathan Page nodded over.

A smooth passing move between the Forfar midfield ended in ex-Dunfermline midfielder Stephen Husband’s cross being headed back towards Chris Templeman but his header landed on the roof of the net.

Chigozie Ugwu wasted a fantastic opportunity in the ninth minute, the striker was clean through on goal but sliced his shot wide when Rab Douglas advanced on him.

Husband almost grabbed a goal against his former employers on the quarter hour mark, Dale Hilson’s cut back found him but his shot was deflected over before Stuart Malcolm headed past the post from the resultant corner.

After twenty minutes Templeman had another chance but when Denholm’s corner came to him his shot was blocked before being cleared.

There wasn’t another chance for almost fifteen minutes after that but during that Forfar were still the better side. They wasted a fantastic opportunity of the opener in the 34^th minute, Danny Denholm working his way to the byline before cutting the ball back to the unmarked Hilson, who took a touch to prepare to fire home but before he could pull the trigger the ball was nicked off his toes.

Gavin Swankie and Templeman both fired wide on the stroke of half time as the Loons pushed hard for the first goal.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 0 Dunfermline Athletic 0

Within a minute of the second half kicking off, Hilson lashed wide and went closer to scoring in the 50^th minute, Chris Templeman swinging in a cross that he met with a header that looked destined to fly in at the back post but Ryan Scully pulled off a great save to deny him.

Rab Douglas had an even better save five minutes later, sub Ross Drummond’s cross swerved towards goal but the big keeper pushed it out, only as far as Michael Moffat and his shot from close range forced a fantastic reaction save.

Hilson wasn’t to be denied in the 57^th minute, collecting the ball 30 yards out and letting fly, the ball going beyond Scully’s reach and into the bottom left corner.

Moffat had a shot blocked in the 66^th minute as the visitors searched for an equaliser with Ugwu fluffing the second chance wide.

Ross Millen sent a long range effort over six minutes later but it was the Loons who struck again sixty seconds after that, James Dale sending a free kick into the box from the half way line and the unmarked Darren Dods bulleted a header home.

Dunfermline had the majority of chances after this, Faissal El Bakhtaoui twice missing in quick succession, Lewis Spence and Moffat going close too. It was Moffat’s shot that was closest to scoring, being deflected towards goal and Aaron James had to sweep the ball off the line.

Gavin Swankie had the last chance of the game in the 89^th minute, just firing over from long range while Dale Hilson had to be taken off after a rough challenge by a Dunfermline defender.

The side are now 2^nd in the table after two games with four points and meet the current leaders Ayr United next Saturday at Somerset Park.

Ramblings of a Loon’s Player of the Match: Dale Hilson

Forfar Athletic: Rab Douglas 7, Michael Dunlop 7, Aaron James 7, Stuart Malcolm 7, Darren Dods 7, Stephen Husband 7 (James Dale 69, 5), Dale Hilson 8 (Martyn Fotheringham 89, 1), Derek Young 7, Chris Templeman 7, Gavin Swankie 8, Danny Denholm 7 (Omar Kader 81, 3).

Subs not used: Gavin Malin, Andrew Steeves, Craig Smith, Ross Salmon (gk)

Dunfermline Athletic: Ryan Scully, Ross Millen, Alex Whittle (Ross Drummond 46), Lewis Martin, Jonathan Page, Andy Geegan, Shaun Byrne (Ryan Thomson 62), Lewis Spence, Michael Moffat, Josh Falkingham, Chigozie Ugwu (Faisall El Bakhtaoui 80)

Subs not used: Ross Forbes, Andy Stirling, Ryan Williamson, Ryan Goodfellow (gk)