Forfar Athletic 2-3 Brechin City

Two spectacular strikes from Murray Mackintosh and Ross Meechan weren’t enough to stop Forfar being defeated by Brechin City in a fast-paced pre-season friendly encounter.

The first half saw Forfar star the brightest with Scally twice pickpocketing a defender and feeding Allan, however, neither effort was enough to open the scoring.

Despite Forfar controlling possession, it was Brechin who got the opener in the 22nd minute, a free-kick from Barron found a trialist in acres of space and he powered a header into the net.

Forfar were straight back in the ascendancy though and Bobby Barr rattled the post less than a minute before Murray Mackintosh fired a spectacular equaliser low past McMinn from 30 yards.

Forfar should’ve gone in at half time in front when a cross evaded the Brechin defence but Scally could only hit McMinn from 3 yards when it looked easier to score.

Forfar trialled a new shape in the second half switching to a three at the back formation which created a far more open game.

Brechin came out hungry and regained their lead in the 59th minute with what was almost a carbon copy of their first. Barron’s free-kick from wide was met this time by Luc Bollan who headed past McCallum.

Brechin doubled their advantage eight minutes later, a brilliant move down the left culminated in Scott Cusick crossing for a trialist who flicked home for his second of the match.

Forfar pulled one back in the 71st minute, an impressive move involving much of the Loons forward players culminated in Ross Meechan smashing a ball into the top corner from 25 yards to score his first goal for the ‘Athies.’

Forfar sustained late pressure and Cammy Breadner came close to equalising with the last kick of the game but his header from close range was narrowly over the bar, and Brechin ran out winners in Forfar’s final pre-season joust.

The Loons now look ahead to a Betfred Cup opener at Den’s Park away to championship outfit Dundee.