Montrose 1 Forfar Athletic 2
Forfar claimed three points and bragging rights with a complete performance at Links Park.
The Loons, who looked resplendent in their new mint and navy away kit started on the front foot and controlled proceedings but were made to wait until the 13th minute for their first sight at goal. Kieran Inglis stung the palms of Mo’ keeper Cammy Gill after a lovely move.
The Athies should have got themselves in front just three minutes later when Seb Ross nipped in behind the defence but his left-footed volley was sniffed out by Gill.
Gill was called into action again from the resultant corner when Stuart Morrison rose highest and forced a good save from the ex-Arbroath man.
Josh Skelly thought he’d notched his first competitive Forfar goal after Gill fumbled the ball virtually unchallenged but the linesman inexplicably called for a foul on the stopper.
Moments later and Skelly was again involved in controversy as it appeared he was bundled over by Sean Dillon as he looked to latch on to a cross. The referee was, however, unmoved to the furore of the Forfar faithful.
In the 33rd minute, a decision did go Forfar’s way. The Forfar players looked reluctant to shoot as the ball was moved around the box by Skelly, Moore and Inglis before Seb Ross was played through and he was clipped as he looked to knock the ball home.
Up stepped Skelly and he sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring.
Things would get even better for Forfar four minutes before the break as they found the second goal their play deserved. The hall broke to Ross following a corner and he did well to swivel and volley home.
Kieran Inglis passed up a chance to cap off an incredible first half as he failed to fully get hold of his shot and Gill made the save.
Montrose did test the Loons more in the second half and pulled one back when Hester nicked one away from the ever-imperious Forfar back line and dispatched an excellent volley into the bottom corner.
The Athies were unwavered by the setback and Inglis again tested Gill from range before Forfar had their third of the night chalked off.
Some great work on the left-hand side by Callum Moore freed Seb Ross and he fired low across Gill who could only parry straight to Thomson who bundled home.
The winger was wheeling away in celebration but they were cut short by the linesman’s flag.
Seb Ross had another shout for a penalty turned down moments before Marc McCallum made an excellent save to snuff out a Kane Hester chance.
Forfar just couldn’t seem to put the game to bed on a night in which they could have had 4 or 5. Callum Moore fired narrowly over before Ryan Paterson missed a golden opportunity after neat play from substitutes Thomson and Darren Watson.
Montrose tested McCallum with a neat move and a shot from distance but the Forfar no. 1 was equal to the task.
As the clock ticked down there was still time for the Loons to spurn one more opportunity. Some excellent clock killing in the corner led to a big chance for Watson but his shot was turned on to the outside of the post by Gill.
A combination of Thomson, Watson and Paterson did an excellent job of killing the clock and the Loons comfortably held strong for what could be a crucial three points in the Viaplay Cup group stage.
The Athies now sit alone at the top with six points from six in their opening two games and know that another victory against either Arbroath or St Mirren will likely see them through to the second round. With eight points being the usual cutting block for second-place teams.
