Forfar Athletic 1 Cowdenbeath 1

Saturday 26 March 2022
Station Park, Forfar
SPFL cinch League 2

 For the tenth time in this League Two season, Forfar had to settle for one point rather than three at the end of what was a bruising battle at Station Park. A goal down at half-time to bottom-of-the-table Cowdenbeath, the Loons battled back with a much improved second-half performance, Scott Shepherd’s well-taken 77th minute counter cancelling out the visitor’s advantage.

  The news wasn’t all bad, however. With the teams around them all losing on a day when the title went to Kelty Hearts, this was, in effect, a point gained for Forfar in their quest to clinch a play-off spot five games hence. Still, there was no disguising the disappointment of the home players at the close of play.

  “The number of draws we’ve had this season has been a bit frustrating, especially those at home,“ acknowledged Assistant Manager Scott Robertson. “No draw is nice, but we do have a good record here at Station Park. And today was a little bit different. In most of the draws we’ve been ahead, lost the lead and finished level; today we had to come from behind and claw it back. Sadly, it wasn’t quite enough to give us the three points.

  “At this stage of the season, it’s not all about performances. So, while we haven’t been happy with the way we’ve played recently, the results have been a consequence of that. And they are all that matter right now.”

  Which was why Robertson wasn’t quite ready to see this as a point earned, rather than two dropped against a side 12 points adrift at the foot of the table.

  “You can say the was a good day because the teams around us all lost, but if we look at this game in isolation we have to say we could have been better,” acknowledge the former Scottish international. “Especially in the first half. After half-time we improved and threw everything at them to the point where it was almost one-way traffic in the second half. We created chances, got lots of balls into the box and were unlucky when we hit the post. It felt like a second goal was coming but ultimately we ran out of time.”

  Looking forward, Robertson was also quick to emphasise that, right now, Forfar have yet to achieve anything, even if ten points do currently separate the Loons from fifth-placed Stenhousemuir. Much remains to be played for over the course of the five remaining games. 

  “We’re not quite assured of a place in the play-offs right now,” he underlined. “So we have to approach each game as it comes. It’s all about next week’s fixture at Stranraer. That has to be our focus. But that has been our way from the start of the season. Today was no different in that respect. We’ll review what went on today, see what we can do better in an effort to makes sure we don’t make the same mistakes - then move on to what comes next. 

  “Next week will be difficult. Every game is at this stage of the season, a time when mental toughness shows. We need to be the instigators in games. And that all be a factor next week. We on the coaching staff are behind the boys. We have full belief in them. That has never changed or wavered. They’ve done well to get us in the position we are in this season. We know the ability they have and the kinds of people they are.”

  Adding to that tribute, Robertson made it clear that confidence within the squad - while not as elevated as it might have been had a few of those ten draws been victories - remains high. The big picture is that Forfar are currently comfortably third in a highly competitive ten-team division.  

  “Results-wise, we haven’t got as many points as we would have liked,” said Robertson. “But you’d have to ask each individual how they are feeling confidence-wise. I don’t see a collective lack of confidence in the group. We got to where we are as that group, so there is no real reason for a dip in confidence. Yes, we would have like to have been still challenging for the title, but we are still in a very good position.”

  And still with much to play for. 

Forfar Athletic 

1 McCallum

2 Meechan

19 Munro

6 Whyte

3 Strachan

7 Thomson ? Anderson 61'

20 Harkins ? Moore 73'

12 Hutton ? 57' Warnock 61'

17 McCluskey ? Shepherd 73'

10 Slater

9 Aitken

Substitutes

11 G Anderson

14 Thomas

15 Hussain

16 Warnock

18 Shepherd

22 Moore

25 Fisher

Cowdenbeath 

1 McDowall

6 Denham

5 C Barr

4 Todd

2 Dunn

7 Miller ? 65'

8 Morrison

3 Buchanan

10 Ompreon ? 69'

9 Buchanan ? B Barr 76'

11 Barrowman ? Ferguson 68'

Substitutes

12 Mullen

14 Swann

15 B Barr

16 Ferguson

17 Gill

18 Moore

19 Coulson

20 Aikamhenze

21 Carty

Referee: Peter Stuart

Attendance: 434