Interview with Forfar Athletic’s David Cox

David Cox reckons it was a no brainer to come to Forfar Athletic as the attacker feels he has played his best football under Gary Bollan.

The 27 year old joined the Loons this summer from Airdrieonians where he played the first half of the season under the manager with Cox delighted to link up again with Bollan.

Speaking after the win over Brora at the weekend, Cox explained that both he and Bollan know exactly what they get from each other.

“I love it so far, I played under Gary at Airdrie and he’s the best manager I’ve played under so he knows what he gets from me and I know what I get from him. It’s good to be here and good to work with the coaching staff as well.”

He continued: “To be honest I probably played my best football last year under him at the start of the season, I started off flying so when he left it was a bit of a gutter but he did say he’d be looking to bring me here. I’m delighted to be here, it looks like a great wee club.”

Cox played the full ninety minutes against Brora, suppling the set piece for Jim Lister’s second and the former Montrose, Annan and Peterhead winger felt it was a decent performance from the team.

“I thought we weren’t as sharp as we played on Tuesday night there but overall it was a decent performance from the boys. It was a hot day so it was difficult for both teams but it was a good wee run out for us and everyone seemed to get a good bit of game time.”

He also believes that the squad are more than capable of recovering from relegation and returning to League One at the first attempt.

“I definitely think so, that’s what the gaffer said the target was, to try and get back up into League One. I think with the boys that they’ve brought in, we’re more than capable of doing that.”

Forfar Athletic 2 Brora Rangers 1 (Pre-Season Friendly) 2nd July 2016

Forfar Athletic   2

Jim Lister 58, 70

Brora Rangers     1

Steven Mackay 62

A Jim Lister double saw Forfar Athletic edge out Highland League outfit Brora Rangers by the odd goal in three in their second pre-season fixture.

After a dull first half, Lister netted either side of a Steven Mackay goal for the visitors as the Loons stepped up their preparations for life in League Two.

Both sides struggled to get going in the first half with the best chance falling to former Dundee United striker Jordan Moore in the 12^th minute.

The Loons trialist was set up by Denholm and despite being one on one with Joe Malin, Moore fluffed his shot and it was easily saved.

Paul Brindle looked to test Grant Adam three minutes later but his effort was straight at the keeper.

Jamie Bain almost set up his fellow ex-Airdrieonians teammate Lister on the stroke of half time with a teasing cross that flew across the face of goal with the striker inches away from connecting.

The game came to life shortly after the break when David Cox cut in from the touchline before unleashing a shot that rattled off the crossbar from 25 yards.

James Yates had an effort of his own parried by the keeper; firing a shot from the touchline towards the near post but the keeper did well to scramble across and push the ball away.

Forfar took the lead in the 58^th minute, Denholm laying the ball off for Jim Lister to rifle a low effort past Malin.

The visitors equalised four minutes later through Steven Mackay when he diverted a Martin MacLean shot past Adam.

Lewis Milne tried his luck from 25 yards shortly after the equaliser with Malin parrying the shot but the game was won with twenty minutes left when Lister rose to nod home a Cox free kick home for his second.

Grant Adam (Jason King 81), James Yates (Angus Mailer 58), Jamie Bain, Thomas O’Brien, Stuart Malcolm (Andrew Munro 58), Lewis Milne (Frankie Devine 81), David Cox, Gavin Swankie (Murray Mackintosh 58), Jim Lister (Kerr Hay 70), Jordan Moore (t) (Matthew Aitken 58), Danny Denholm.

Arbroath 1 Motherwell 0 (Pre-Season Friendly) 3rd July 2016

Arbroath      1

Steven Doris 88

Motherwell  0

 

A late goal from Steven Doris was enough for the Red Lichties to snatch a victory over Motherwell on Sunday.

Dick Campbell’s side faced a mixture of first team and under 20 players in their first public friendly of the season with the manager taking a look at four trialists throughout the match.

Kane Hester had the first opportunity of the match for Arbroath against a mixed Motherwell side but his effort in the second minute failed to threaten Dean Brill.

Both sides seemed to be finding their feet in the first half, with chances few and far between. New signing Omar Kader had two shots shortly before the hour mark but saw the first blocked before the second was held by Brill.

Half time saw the return to Gayfield of former loanee Marc McCallum, the stopper appearing as a trialist in his hunt for a new club.

McCallum, like first half keeper Robbie Mutch, had little to do in his 45 minutes with Motherwell failing to have a clear shot on target. The visitors’ Lionel Ainsworth saw his effort shortly after the break deflected wide meanwhile fellow first team player Chris Cadden’s shot was weak and McCallum gathered with ease.

Arbroath thought they had taken the lead in the 66^th minute through trialist substitute Junior Ogen; Kieran Kennedy’s header back to his keeper was short and Ogen nipped in to flick the ball past Brill however it landed agonisingly past the post.

Kader came close to scoring on his debut for the club four minutes later when he controlled a ball into the box before rifling his effort into the sidenetting.

Arbroath were dealt a blow in the 72^nd minute when trialist Josh Thomson was forced off due to injury. Dick Campbell had used all of his available subs with Dunlop and Linn not fit enough to play so they were given the rare option of putting on a player they had taken off, Steven Doris coming back on twelve minutes after going off the park.

This almost worked in their favour with the returning hitman rattling the crossbar from long range with the keeper beaten.

The game seemed to pick up in tempo in the final ten minutes however it was the visitors who looked to be lacking in fitness in the latter stages of the game.

Colin Hamilton saw his fierce shot inside the box tipped over with Kader having his effort deflected wide before the latter played a part in the only goal of the game.

Kader supplied the pass that allowed trialist Phillips to send an inch perfect cross that fell at Doris’ feet for the striker to curl home with just two minutes left.

Dick Campbell was delighted with his side after the game, exclaiming that they more than deserved the win. The squad now prepare for their next game on Tuesday night when they entertain Turriff United.

Arbroath: Robbie Mutch (Marc McCallum (t) 46), Josh Thomson (t) (Steven Doris 72), Gary Phillips (t), Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton, Mark Whatley, Craig Wilson, Ryan McCord (David Gold 46), Steven Doris (Junior Ogen 60), Kane Hester, Omar Kader

Subs not used: Michael Dunlop, Bobby Linn

Motherwell: Dean Brill, Jack McMillan (Josh Stachini 50), Joe Chalmers, Kieran Kennedy, David Ferguson (Luke Watt 63), David Turnbull (Jordan Armstrong 84), Lionel Ainsworth (Jake Hastie 72), Ross McLean, Dylan Mackin (Alan Campbell 46), Craig Moore (James Scott 59), Chris Cadden

Subs not used: Barry McGuire, Josh Moore, Peter Morrison (gk)