Raith Rovers 2 Forfar Athletic 1
[Sunday, 08 March 2020 09:40]
The ‘Loons’ began the final quarter of the league campaign with, in the end, a narrow defeat to league leaders Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy yesterday afternoon.
In truth however it would have to be said that the better side on the day won, although neither were at their best, the Athies netting a consolation counter well into added on time at the end of the contest.
As has been the case in recent weeks, the visitors could not be faulted in any way for their effort or application but again in the final evaluation of the ninety-plus minutes, they just came up short!
Scott Robertson, Robbie Leitch and Bobby Barr returned to the starting line-up for Forfar, but they got off to the worst possible start when Rovers took the lead in the 9th minute.
Dan Armstrong pounced on a certain amount of indecision in the ‘Loons’ rearguard before beating Marc McCallum with a firm strike from an acute angle.
The visitors best chance of the half came on the 27-minute mark. BJ Coll and Steven Doris set up the opportunity, Scott Robertson’s header just looping over Ross Munro’s crossbar.
Before the half time whistle, McCallum had to look sharp to thwart a further scoring attempt from the alert Armstrong.
Early in the second period, a Steven Doris effort was blocked and thereafter the play for a spell was as gloomy as the weather!
However, the introduction by the home side of John Baird in the 75th minute paid immediate dividends.
Within sixty seconds he had pounced on a loose ball before rifling the ball past McCallum with the away defenders appealing in vain for an offside flag.
Stuart Malcolm’s side did reduce the leeway with their first goal in three games in the 93rd minute of play, substitutes Matty Aitken and Connor Coupe combining to set up the opportunity, the latter netting with a cracking low drive from the edge of the box.
The only saving grace for the Station Park outfit came with the news that Peterhead and Stranraer had also lost.
It is a return to home ‘soil’ this coming Saturday, third in the table Airdrieonians due in the ‘toonie.’
Forfar lined up at Starks Park;- McCallum, Irvine, Coll, Whyte, Meechan, Robertson, Leith(Coupe), Tapping, Doris(Aitken), McKenzie, Barr
Subs not used – Bain, Kirkpatrick, MacKintosh, McGuff
Referee – Alan Newlands
Crowd 1,551
