Forfar Athletic 0 Elgin City 0

Forfar played out a second successive scoreless draw against Elgin at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday.

The Loons were hampered by the loss of Josh Skelly to the knock that forced him off against Stenhousemuir. Darren Watson deputised up top, Roberto Nditi and Matty Allan also returned to the starting line up.

The first half saw both sides cancel each other out with very little goalmouth action. Seb Ross had a chance early on but he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to get the shot away.

Both sides swapped soft efforts on goal midway through the half but the best half opportunity came in injury time when Kieran Inglis curler skewed just wide of the post via a deflection.

It took just five minutes for the second period to usurp the first in terms of action. Ross Draper’s header looked goal bound before Marc McCallum pulled off a wonder stop by pushing the ball onto the inside of the post before gathering at the second attempt.

Kieran Inglis went up the other end and stung the palms of the Elgin keeper as Forfar looked for a breakthrough.

Seb Ross then created the next opportunity when he raced down the left but his cutback was blocked as was Callum Moore’s follow up effort.

Inglis was presented a golden opportunity when a free kick was awarded right on the edge of the box but Nditi’s roll to change the angle allowed Dingwall to rush out from the wall and block.

Craig Thomson spurned the next opportunity when he headed just wide as he threw himself at Tomas Brindley’s cross.

Elgin were still in the game though and McCallum was forced into a smart stop when Liam Harvey fired a free kick from well back towards the bottom corner.

Ryan Paterson would have the next effort for Forfar and it was almost a spectacular opener. When the ball popped up in the box he thumped a volley towards goal but McHale was alert in the Elgin goal and made an impressive save.

The last chance came with virtually the last touch when Craig Thomson crossed to pick out Watson but he couldn’t keep his diving header down on the edge of the 6 yard box and the Loons were forced to settle for a point.

Loons manager Ray McKinnon and his players now face a rematch where Saturday’s visitors will turn hosts as we travel to Borough Briggs for an SPFL Trust Trophy clash.

Full time 0-0