Station Park; Forfar
Saturday 8 January 2022
SPFL cinch League
After suffering two league defeats in succession for the first time this season, Forfar came up with an important change in momentum with an entertaining 3-2 home victory over Stranraer. It was a result that keeps the Loons in second-place in the second division, two points clear of next week’s opponents, Annan Athletic.
One down midway through the first-half, a Scott Shepherd penalty had the home side level by half-time. Two more goals in five minutes from Grant Anderson and a second Shepherd spot-kick just after the hour mark proved to be the decisive thrust in this end-to-end encounter, although a late strike by the visitors added some tension to the closing stages.
“It was a hard-fought game throughout, although we made it a bit tough for ourselves towards the end,” said Forfar boss, Gary Irvine. “But I’m delighted we got over the finishing line and secured the three points. I have to give Stranraer credit. They came here and made it a really physical game, which we were expecting and could have adapted to a bit better. We needed to be a bit braver on the ball, which would have helped alleviate some of that late pressure.
“Having said that, I was really pleased with much of the game. Scott dealt with the two penalties in impressive fashion. Taking care of them is always brilliant. And Grant scored a nice goal too.”
Most of which came after the Forfar boss made some tactical adjustments after seeing the visitors take the lead.
“I was disappointed going in at half-time,” continued Irvine. “We never really got started in the first 45 minutes. We were too ‘open,’ especially in the middle of the park. We actually tried to adapt to that just before half-time by helping out in the middle of the park. And we reacted well after the break with PJ Crossan playing a bit closer to Scott up top. That was new to both, but they adapted well.
“As was obvious from the team-line, we are still dealing with injuries and Covid absentees. So we’re a little bit patched up, especially as Stefan McCluskey pulled out through illness this morning. So we had to change from what we had worked on during the week. It took us until the second half to get used to what we were then trying to do. We were on the front foot a lot more at that stage. But I’d still like to have been more comfortable towards the end there.”
Still, picking up three points was the key at the end for a side disrupted - not for the first time this season - by injury, illness, and covid related issues.
“I said to the players that today was important on the back of two defeats,” said Irvine. “That’s the first time we’ve had to face that this season. We actually had an unbelievable second-quarter, picking up 21 points from the nine games. I’ll never use it as an excuse - it’s tough for all clubs at the moment - but we have been affected by Covid. Players had to be left out of both the Stenhousemuir and Elgin games. So we’ve been forced to adapt and change.
“It was clear from the team section today and who we had available that we are a few bodies down for various reasons. Mark Gallagher’s loan has ended and he has gone back to Aberdeen. That left us a midfielder short. So I’ll be trying to add to the squad in that area, as well as up front. We have good cover right across the back-four. But I’m definitely looking to bring players in more attacking areas.”
All in all, then, the manager left Station Park happier at a similar time in the last two matches.
“I’m delighted that we have come through that difficult phase,” he continued. “Yes, we lost two games but we’ve halted that run with a good three points at home. It was disappointing to lose our unbeaten run here when we lost to Stenhousemuir. We were proud of that record. It’s so important that we pick up points in front of our fans. So it was good to get a win for them today.
“Next week at Annan will be another tough game. But we’ve picked up two wins against them this season so far. They are the in-form team in the league though. So it will be difficult. They are a well-organised team. But today will boost our confidence. We’re back on track, one we need to keep building on.”
Forfar Athletic
1 McCallum
2 Meechan
19 Munro ? 19'
4 S Anderson
3 Strachan
10 Slater ? 30'
20 Harkins ? Whyte 74'
11 G Anderson ⚽️ 60' ? Fisher 85'
22 Moore ? Thomas 45+1'
24 Crossan
18 Shepherd ⚽️ 42' (p) 64' ⚽️ (p)? Doris 85'
Substitutes
6 Whyte
12 Doris
14 Thomas
21 Sanderson
23 Irvine
25 Fisher
Stranraer
1 Baker
22 McIntosh
15 Ross ? 36'
5 Sonkur ? Hawkshaw 67'
23 Smith ? Muir 59' ⚽️ 70'
8 Gallagher ? 62'
2 Robertson
11 Woods
14 Walker ⚽️ 34' ? Brady 67'
20 Yates
10 Watson ? Duffy 58'
Substitutes
6 Brady
7 Muir
12 Hamill
16 Hawkshaw
18 Irving
24 Duffy
Referee: Lorraine Watson
Attendance: 436
