Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 2

Forfar claimed their first league win of the season with a comfortable victory over Stranraer.

The Loons started brightly and almost took the lead when Josh Skelly teed up Mark Whatley but a strong save from Stranraer keeper Martin McDonald prevented the opener.

The Athies early pressure paid off when McDonald failed to connect properly with a clearance. Ryan Paterson picked the ball up from 35 yards and expertly lobbed the retreating goalkeeper.

Forfar set about increasing their lead and should have done when Rory MacLeod sent Callum Moore through on goal but the ball got caught underneath his feet and the eventual layoff to Josh Skelly was blocked.

Stranraer played their way in to the game and had a spell of pressure midway through the first half. Marc McCallum was forced to move quickly to stop a Tam Orr header with Stranraer’s first real chance.

The Loons impressive first half would be rounded off on the 38th minute when Moore pickpocketed the defence out wide which released Paterson. He found Josh Skelly who made no mistake, lashing home low beating the keeper at the near post.

Forfar took a long time to get their heads back in the game after the break and it allowed Stranraer to lump the pressure on. Ex Loon Ben Armour first forced a good save from Marc McCallum before some pinball in the box lead to Tam Orr firing out for a goal kick despite a credible shout for a penalty from the home side.

The Loons eventually ‘returned from the halftime dressing room’ and Callum Moore won the ball in midfield and played a great ball finding the Loons man of the match Paterson but McDonald was equal to the shot, the rebound just evading sub Cameron Ferguson.

Moore was again in the thick of the action when he played another delicious ball to Paterson out wide but he just couldn’t squeeze his shot into the far corner.

The closing stages were very quiet but it was Forfar who came closest to adding another. Firstly Roberto Nditi with a shot out of nothing then substitute Darren Watson both forcing a great save from McDonald.

The comfortable victory gives the Loons their first three points of the season and a win for Ray McKinnon’s men at fellow slow starters East Fife next week could put Forfar right back in amongst the leading pack.

Fulltime 0-2

A huge thanks to the supporters who made the trip to Stair Park. You could see from the celebrations at fulltime by the players what it means to have the Loons supporters there cheering them on.