Forfar Athletic 1 Annan Athletic 1 (1 - 2 on aggregate)

SPFL cinch League 1 Play-off Semi-final 2nd Leg
Saturday 7 May 2022
Station Park, Forfar

Football can be a cruel game as all connected to Forfar can understand a little bit better after the disappointment of Saturday’s playoff semi-final defeat. 

Gary Irvine, like many around, struggled to find the words as his team were knocked out by an 87th-minute penalty after a near-flawless performance previously. 

The Loons began on the front foot, dominating possession and clearly shocking the visitors. Craig Slater smashed a free-kick off the underside of the crossbar in the 13th minute, the ball bouncing agonisingly on the line before being cleared. 

The fast start by the men in blue had shocked the visitors, with Annan keeper Greg Fleming receiving a caution for time-wasting in the 23rd minute.

The Athies would take a deserved lead on the day and level the tie in the 32nd minute. Slater drove from inside his own half to free Thomas Brindley in the corner, his cross found Stefan McCluskey who tapped into the net. 

Steven Warnock and Sam Fisher both had efforts before the half was out.

Annan looked a different side after the break and almost regained their lead in the 52nd minute. Sam Fisher broke from defence but slipped and allowed the visitors to charge towards the goal. Marc McCallum’s phenomenal double save was the only thing that kept the tie all square. 

The Loons quickly regained control of the game and almost had the aggregate lead in the 64th minute. Callum Moore beat his man and curled a delicious shot towards the top corner before Fleming flung a hand up and tipped the ball onto the bar. 

Fleming would again be the hero for Annan ten minutes from time. Gary Harkins's front post header looked destined for the net all the way until the stopper flung himself across the line and dived backwards to claw the ball away but not before, in the view of many but crucially not the linesman, the ball crossed the line.

It was the 87th minute when in the words of Irvine “the body blow” would come. Ross Meechan was beaten in the corner by Michael Garrity and the striker charged into the box before intelligently drawing the foul and leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Tony Wallace stepped up to slot the Galabankies into the playoff final. 

Perhaps fittingly, it was a 13th draw of the season, in a game which Forfar controlled which sealed the fate of at least a second season in League 2. 

It is now time for the Loons look to pick ourselves up and learn from the disappointment to bounce back stronger next season.

As mentioned elsewhere thank you to the many supporters who came out to back the team. 

Forfar Athletic 

1 McCallum
2 Meechan
25 Fisher
6 Whyte
26 Brindley
22 Moore
17 McCluskey ⚽️ 32' 🟨 88'
20 Harkins 🟨 83' 🔄 Crossan 90'
10 Slater
16 Warnock
9 Aitken 🔄 Shepherd 90'

Substitutes

3 Strachan
7 Thomson
11 G Anderson
12 Hutton
14 Thomas
15 Hussain
18 Shepherd
21 Sanderson
24 Crossan

Annan Athletic

1 Fleming 🟨 24'
2 Barnes
5 Hooper 🟨 12'
6 Swinglehurst 🔄 Clark 29'
3 Lowdon
11 Johnston 🔄 Smith 45'
7 Wallace ⚽️ (pen) 88'
8 Docherty
4 Moxon
9 Garrity 🔄Fleming 90+3'
10 Goss

Substitutes

12 Adamson
14 Steele
15 Fleming
16 Smith
17 McCartney
18 Clark
19 Murphy
20 McMenamin
21 Douglas

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 886