Forfar Athletic 0 Stenhousemuir 0

SPFL cinch League 2
Station Park, Forfar 
Saturday 30 April 2022

Job done. After starting the final day of the regular season in second place on goal difference from Annan Athletic, Forfar consolidated the runner-up spot in League Two with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Stenhousemuir. Combined with Annan’s 1-2 defeat at home to champions Kelty Hearts, that means the Loons will enjoy home advantage in the second leg when the pair meet again in the first round of the promotion playoffs this coming week.

  “The aim coming into today’s game was to retain second place,” confirmed Forfar boss, Gary Irvine, after watching his side draw with Stennie, the only side the Loons failed to defeat in the league this season. “We knew it was going to be a difficult game. All four of our encounters with Stenhousemuir have been tight affairs and that was the case again today. But, in the main, I felt like we were the team in control of the game. We had good possession of the ball. Maybe the only disappointment was that we didn’t create many chances. We never worked their keep enough.”

  Still, this was a day that was (hopefully) always going tome about looking forward rather than back. And it wasn’t long before Irvine’s focus shifted to what lies ahead over the next seven days. 

  “It’s been a tough season and the players have been brilliant,” he continued. “For long enough it was about trying to push Kelty. But that wasn’t to be when we tailed off a bit at the turn of the year. We’ve finished strongly though. Which is a credit to the players over the last two months or so. We’ve shown that we are the second-best team in this league. And, again, that is a credit to the players. The next best thing to challenging Kelty was always to get promotion through the play-offs. Which is where we are now. We have a great chance.”

  Indeed, on past form, Forfar will be, on paper, favourites to progress through to a play-off final against either Dumbarton or Edinburgh City. Three times the Loons have beaten Annan this season, the most recent of those a 5-1 drubbing at Station Park earlier this month. Typically, however, Irvine is taking nothing for granted, even while acknowledging the psychological edge his players will own.

  “Winning in the playoffs is a completely different task,” he insisted. “There’a always a bit of extra tension and nerves. So it requires a bit more concentration and, hopefully, a bit of quality in the games. And yes, we were on the right side of our most recent match with Annan. We can carry that momentum. It doesn’t mean everything, of course. But we have to take our last result with Annan as a positive.

  “So we’re looking forward to it. Annan isn’t the easiest place to go. We won there early in the season, but our second visit was tougher. The prize is there for us though. We’ll go down there with some real excitement. And with a winning mentality. We’re in a good place.”

  One benefit of keeping an eye on the Annan-Kelty score was that Irvine was able to use his substitutes bench to good effect against Stenhousemuir. With the possibility of four tough games over the next two weeks, he was able to rest some tired legs, as well as give some squad players some useful minutes on the pitch.

  “I was aware of the other game,” admitted Irvine. “As much as I am always pushing to win every game - and we wanted a victory today - it was good to take some lads off. Given how much they have already played, that was a nice opportunity. It was important to get them rested up for Tuesday.”

  On the ever-changing injury front, there was some good news in the sight of Steven Anderson on the substitute's bench. With player-of-the-year, Andy Munro also sidelined for at least the two Annan matches, some defensive back-up could be important. 

  “Sam Fisher has done brilliantly since he has come into the team,” said Irvine. “And Darren Whyte has progressed and gotten stronger as the season has gone on. But still, it is nice to see Steven - who has worked so hard with his rehab - back in action. He’s available, which is a great boost for us, especially when Andy is out. He has played a massive part for us this season. His player-of-the-year award is fully deserved. But it’s nice to see that we have strength in depth when it is required.

  “All of which gives me headaches when I come to pick the team and planning games. I have 21-22 bodies to choose from and they have all played a massive part throughout the season. It’s a headache but a good headache. All in all, it’s a good position to be in. I’m looking forward to the playoffs. 

  “I’ve been involved in big games throughout my career and I’ve seen first-hand how the home crowd can help give players a bit of extra energy. Equally, that can have the opposite effect on visiting opposition. So our fans can play a huge part next Saturday when I’m sure they will come out in big numbers. Hopefully, we’ll be celebrating at the end of it all.”

Forfar Athletic 

1 McCallum
2 Meechan
6 Whyte
25 Fisher
26 Brindley 🔄 Hussain 87'
10 Slater 🔄 Thomas 76'
12 Hutton
22 Moore 🔄 Shepherd 65'
16 Warnock 🔄 Strachan 76'
9 Aitken 🔄 G Anderson 76'
7 Thomson

Substitutes

3 Strachan
4 S Anderson
11 G Anderson
14 Thomas
15 Hussain
18 Shepherd
20 Harkins
21 Sanderson (GK)
24 Crossan

Stenhousemuir 

20 Wilson
24 Miller
5 Crighton
25 Jamieson
2 Lyon
17 Anderson
6 Wedderburn 🔄 Moreland 65'
7 Forbes 🟨 21' 🔄 Thomson 76'
11Brown
16 O'Reilly
9 Orr 🔄 Graham 76'

Substitutes

1 Wilson
10 Thomson
19 Graham
23 Moreland

Referee: Steven Reid

Attendance: 490