Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 1

The 370 fans who braved horrendous overhead conditions to watch this fixture all deserved a medal.

The vital bottom of the table ‘spat’ was completed despite the torrential rain that fell throughout coupled with a strong, though not nearly gale-force wind that whipped straight across the pitch.

It has to be said at this point that though neither side could be faulted for their effort and commitment throughout the ninety minutes the fare on offer overall did little to warm the hearts of the supporters, a fact acknowledged by Stuart Malcolm in his after-match comments.

The game also saw Michael Travis stretchered off in the 43^rd minute with a knee injury which saw him leave the ground on crutches.  However, the Forfar medical team are hopeful that the injury may not be as serious as first thought and the player will be assessed early in the week.

The home side went with the same starting line-up as at Peterhead seven days before and after Callum Tapping and Steven Doris saw early strikes miss the target it was the eventual and worthy Man of the Match Darren Whyte who put the ‘Loons’ ahead on the 14-minute mark with his first goal of the season.

Jordan Kirkpatrick whipped in a free-kick from wide on the right, Darren getting his boot to the ball six yards out giving Max Currie no chance with the resultant strike.

Kirkpatrick drove just over the bar on the half-hour mark but no further goals were on the ‘menu’ prior to the half time cuppa.

The visitors  looked the likelier outfit in the earlier part of the second period, the Athies struggling to get ‘out of the blocks,’

That early dominance paid off for Steve Farrell’s side when Ryan Stevenson managed to get his head on a Jamie Hamill strike in the 58^th minute to find the corner of the net.

Max Currie in the visitors' goal in all probability had only one shot of note to deal with in the remainder of the contest, while to be fair Marc McCallum at the other end dealt comfortably with net bound efforts from Stevenson and Thomson.

Right on the whistle Steven Doris who again put in a power of work for the home side throughout burst clear of the pack only to be scythed down by Stranraer’s Scott Robertson on the edge of the box, the resultant free-kick proving fruitless.

Stuart Malcolm’s side will now gear themselves up for an away day doubleheader, Dumbarton the ‘port’ of call on Saturday first, followed by Peterhead on Tuesday week.

Forfar lined up yesterday;- McCallum, Meechan, Coll, Whyte, Travis (Stanger), Irvine, Leitch (Coupe), Tapping(Robertson) Doris, Kirkpatrick, Barr

Subs not used – Bain, MacKintosh, Aitken, McGuff

Referee – Kevin Graham

Crowd 370