Forfar Athletic 4 Stirling Albion 2

Another sizzling Saturday summer afternoon at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park and the crowd enjoyed a clear-cut win for Forfar against Alan Maybury’s Stirling Albion.

The last time these sides met the match ended goalless and on Saturday, supporters of both teams would have been hoping for something better than that. Jim Weir sent out almost the same team as last weekend – with Chris Scott coming in for Mackenzie Lemon the only change. On the other hand, Stirling made a wholesale six changes to the team that had been convincingly beaten by Dundee United’s B team during the week.

The opening minutes were scrappy, with the Binos conceding a number of free kicks, which all came to nothing. In 7 minutes, Forfar’s Scott Shepherd saw a neat shot deflect off-target and a minute later, Stirling's physical Robbie McNab flashed his shot wildly over the bar from 18 yards out. Chris Scott and Ross MacLean were now showing nice glimpses of link up play down the left, one move leading to a Forfar corner, straight off the training pitch, as Slater touched the kick for MacLean, whose shot flew just wide of the goal.

Shepherd was involved again a minute later as he appeared to be impeded as he charged through on Derek Gaston’s goal, however referee, George Calder remained unmoved. At this point, Stirling started to find their way into the game. In 18 minutes, Forfar’s Marc McCallum had his gloves warmed by a stinger from winger Adam Brown and 5 minutes after this, the same player had a snap shot go just wide of target. This passage of play would lead to the opening goal of the game for the away team as Jack Harkness neatly curled Robbie McNab’s cross, into the corner of the net, giving Marc McCallum no chance in 29 minutes.

Stuart Morrison continued in the same vein as the rest of this season; defending stoutly and making intelligent challenges in dangerous areas. In the 35th minute of the half, Craig Slater agonisingly saw his 12-yard rifled drive smash back off the crossbar, with keeper Gaston standing watching. In 37, former Loons player, Russell McLean received a yellow card for persistent fouling, much to the derision of his ex-club's supporters.

A minute later, another foul against Forfar, this time with Ross MacLean being chopped down in the Stirling box by Kyle Banner. Martin Rennie would then coolly dispatch the penalty straight down the middle of the Stirling goal to make the score 1-1.

After the goal, Forfar grew in stature: Angus Mailer sharp and hungry in the midfield engine room and Lewis Lorimer looking quick on the ball. In 42 minutes, Stirling manager, Maybury, was booked for foul language and the rest of the half was Forfar’s: Scott had a floated header sail over the bar; MacLean linking nicely with Slater and despite robust challenges from Stirling’s Robbie McNab and then Martin Rennie popped up to score his and Forfar’s second goal of the match.

HALF TIME 2-1

Stirling Albion’s assistant manager Tony McMinn was also shown a yellow card, shortly after the half time whistle.

The second half found Forfar continuing to press their advantage. In 47, a great angled pass from Lewis Lorimer found Ross MacLean, still with work to do as he angled the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Forfar’s delight would not last long though as the fans had to see the double agony of Stirling pulling the game back to 3-2, but also that Russell MacLean should be to score an easy tap-in as he lurked at the front post.

Two minutes later, the Loons found themselves back in the box seat as Lorimer again found Ross MacLean, this time, Lorimer finding Mailer who, turning quickly, found MacLean for an easy tap in to make it 4-2. Forfar looked like they wanted more – MacLean involved in the action once more, seeing his shot go just over in 55. However, Forfar continued to resist any attacks, with Dolzanski and Morrison linkng solidly at the back.

60 minutes saw Lorimer replaced by the speedy Jamie Richardson, who would find himself presented with a great chance to score in front of goal in 66 minutes; his shot somehow cleared off the line. Lewis Martin continued to provide strong cover down the right-hand side, but also showed his flair attacking, in placing a fantastic, looping ball over the top for Shepherd, who would then meet with some robust defending and the chance was gone. Forfar then replaced Shepherd with fan-favourite, Kieran Inglis. In 75, Martin Rennie showed more good one touch play, linking up with Richardson to provide Slater with a chance that sailed agonisingly just over the bar.

Stirling’s Robbie McNab then caught the eye of the crowd, firstly for a yellow card, given for multiple fouls and in 78, McNab found himself totally clear in the box, with a header that flashed well wide of the target.

Jim Weir then made his final substitution of the afternoon – with the hard-working Shepherd coming off for promising new-start, Jake Sutherland. Play would go from end to end, with both sides seeing glimpses of the goal: Craig Slater, for Forfar had a shot, direct from a free kick, gathered gratefully by keeper, Gaston, and in 87, we saw Stirling’s Ross Cunningham (another ex-Forfar man) have his shot tipped over the bar as McCallum reached to stop the looping shot.

Forfar fans left the ground feeling somewhat euphoric once the realisation set in that the Loons were top of League 2 – contrasting sharply with emotions on the day that these sides last met. The fact that Jim Weir has brought in some exciting new players, some youth with great potential, and blended them so effectively with guys already bedded in and committed to the team is a real testament to Jim, Gavin and his management knowledge, work rate and desire, which is now producing exciting and successful football. On to The Spartans next weekend.

Man of the Match: Martin Rennie

Crowd: 649

Match report by Alex Colquhoun