Forfar Athletic 3 Cowdenbeath 0

Saturday 20 November 2021
SPFL cinch League 2
Station Park

Forfar left it late but eventually overpowered struggling Cowdenbeath with a fantastic final 15 minutes.

After a frustrating result last week, the Loons went about their business in the right way, controlling large parts of the opening period but were kept at bay
by a rigid Cowdenbeath defence. Scott Shepherd looked most like scoring as he was twice played in behind and twice denied by visiting 'keeper Cameron
Gill midway through the half. As half-time loomed Matty Aitken rattled Ross Meehan's cross onto the bar after an impressive move.

P.J Crossan and Shepherd would come close for the Athies after the break but it took until the 77th minute for the scoring to be opened. The new found goal machine Andy Munro rose highest to power home Luke Strachan's corner for his third goal in five league appearances.

The introduction of Grant Anderson had given the home side a boost and it was he who killed the game off five minutes from time. A lovely move in the middle of the park freed Meechan on the right, whose delivery was met perfectly by Anderson. The goal was the perfect end to a week where Grant and his wife Ann Marie welcomed their second child into the world.

Anderson was looking dangerous and should have had an assist when he crossed for Crossan, however the winger could not sort his feet and fired over the bar.

Aitken would add more gloss to the scoreline with a free kick in injury time after Craig Slater was felled at the edge of the box. The striker bent a low strike into the bottom corner to cap a fine afternoon for the home side.

October's manager of the month was very satisfied with his teams performance. Gary said "It was a really impressive performance in what was a really tough game. They set themselves up in a way which was tough to break down. I said at half time, we need to move the ball quicker to break them down. We get a good goal off the set-play and we get the confidence boost from that and go on to win comfortably. We bounced back straight away after a frustrating loss last week and we continued the confidence which has got us the three points. We changed up the system because Stefan and Craig were out with knocks and I think it worked really well. We controlled the ball, dictated the tempo and scored a really good goal in the second. 

"I'm delighted for Grant Anderson, he changed the game for us and it has been a really good week for him, welcoming a new baby girl and then getting a goal, almost getting an assist and adding so much from the bench." Said Irvine.

The Loons now make the short trip to Gayfield on Scottish Cup action for a challenge the manager is relishing. "I have been excited for this game, it is a real challenge for the lads, it will be a tough game against a good side and a good manager which we know all about. I's an opportunity to test ourselves and of course it has the added spice of being a derby game too.

Gary and his players now head into Scottish Cup action where another large following will be needed to spur the side on at Gayfield next Saturday.

Forfar Athletic 
1 McCallum
2 Meechan (c)
4 S Anderson
19 Munro ⚽️ 77'
3 Strachan
10 Slater
14 Thomas
16 Gallagher ? G Anderson 62' ⚽️ 85'
24 Crossan
18 Shepherd ? Doris 76'
9 Aitken ⚽️ 90+2'

Substitutes
5 Travis
11 G Anderson
12 Doris
15 Hussain
21 Sanderson (GK)
23 Irvine
25 Fisher

Cowdenbeath 
1 Gill
6 Todd
5 C Barr
4 O'Connor
2 Mullen
7 Hutton ? 71'
8 Miller ? Morrison 86' ? 90'
3 Swann
10 L Buchanan ? Thomson 86'
11 R Buchanan
9 Coulson ? B Barr 86'

Substitutes
12 B Barr
14 Mahady
15 Thomson
16 Clarke
17 McGurn
18 Morrison
19 Watson

Referee: Steven Reid
Attendance: 474