Cowdenbeath 1 Forfar Athletic 2

Tuesday 15 March 2022

Central Park, Cowdenbeath 

SPFL cinch League 2

It was worth the wait. Twenty-four days on from their previous League Two victory over leaders Kelty Hearts, Forfar got back to winning ways against bottom of the table Cowdenbeath. Goals from Craig Thomson - the Loons’ first strike in exactly five hours of playing time - and Andy Munro giving the side a 2-1 edge over the home side at a sparsely-populated Central Park.

  “It was a hard-fought match, but we showed great character and ‘dig,’” said manager Gary Irvine after watching his side win for the first time in 24 days. “I used that word on Saturday after the Stirling game and I was looking for it tonight. It was tough in periods out there, really physical. Scrappy too. But even when the game was direct, the team - from back to front - was a unit. We dealt with most of what came our way.

  “We changed things up tonight, going a bit more direct. We put more emphasis on getting support up to Matty, which meant our wide players had to influence too. It wasn’t just about getting balls into the box, it was also about them getting forward and using their legs. Craig Thomson’s goal was a good example of that. We have real pace in the squad with the likes of Craig Thomson and Stefan McCluskey and that was good to see. Because it’s been missing for the last two or three weeks.  

  “I’ve been talking about us dominating games and possession and getting into good areas but not producing an end result. The message tonight was different: ‘use your legs, run in behind the defence, then go and finish.’”

  Indeed, Forfar dominated the first half-hour or so and we were well worth their lead before a sloppy mistake at the back led to the Cowdenbeath equaliser not long before half-time. Not that it made too much difference. Without ever reaching the level of superiority they showed in the first third of the match, the Loons were always the better side after the break. 

  “We started really well,” confirmed Irvine. “For the first 25 minutes we were in control. Matty Aitken was dominating up-top. Then we scored a great goal, one Craig Thomson took really well. But we made one wee mistake where we played a pass on the edge of the box that wasn’t ‘on.’ It was a chance we didn’t need to take and they took advantage. 

  “The goal gave the opposition a lift. So we had to re-group at half-time. But the belief was still there. They knew they were the better team, even if the score was level. So the plan was the same - take the game to Cowdenbeath. The goal came, eventually, and after that, we stood up and defended well.”

  That much was certainly true. Andy Munro - not for the first time this season - was an especially prominent figure at the back, as well as adding what was his ninth goal of the season (matching his yellow cards). It was a win that takes Forfar to the 50-point mark for the season and, perhaps more importantly, moves the side nine points clear of Stenhousemuir in fifth place. Which is not to say Irvine is overly concerned with even a metaphorical look over his shoulder.

  “I’m not really interested in the teams behind if I’m honest,” claimed the Forfar boss. “Getting points on the board is our priority, as well as looking at the teams above us. We’ve got another hard game on Saturday, again away from home. In that respect, it is a tough week for the boys. But we had a good training session on Monday night, which we took into tonight. And after picking up three points here, we can hopefully build on that confidence and momentum.

  “And yes, it was good to see Andy Munro score again tonight. The goals he has given us this season are a real credit to him. But his overall performances have been excellent. He’s been a real rock at the back for us, with a variety of partners. We’ve had to chop and change the line-up a lot since the turn of the year. Steven Anderson is out for the season. Darren Whyte has had to work back to full fitness. Which is not to say I don’t have great belief in anyone who steps in.”

  All in all, then, it was a good night.

  “This is a result we might well see as one of our most important victories of the season,” concluded Irvine. “It is always hard to come here and win. But we’ve done it after a couple of results we were not happy with, which showed real character. It’s a win we’ll look back on with some pleasure.” 

Cowdenbeath
1 Gill
4 Todd
5 C Barr ? 45
6 Dunn
2 Coulson ? Ompreon 88'
7 Miller
8 Morrison
3 Mullen ⚽️ 36'
10 Buchanan ? 68'
11 Barrowman ? Aikamhenze 88'
9 Buchanan ? 88'

Substitutes
12 Swann
14 Ferguson
15 B Barr
16 Carty
17 McDowall
18 Moore
19 Ompreon
20 Aikamhenze

Forfar Athletic 
1 McCallum
19 Munro ⚽️ 84'
2 Meechan
15 Hussain
26 Brindley
7 Thomson ⚽️ 13' ? G Anderson 80'
22 Moore
10 Slater
12 Hutton ? Shepherd 62'
9 Aitken
17 McCluskey ? 45' ? Harkins 84'

Substitutes
11 G Anderson
14 Thomas
18 Shepherd
20 Harkins
21 Sanderson (GK)

Referee: Graham Beaton

Attendance: 246