Forfar Athletic 1 Clyde 1

Forfar rescued a point from a tough encounter against Clyde with a last-minute screamer.

The Loons made a number of changes from last week’s defeat to Stenny. Adam Hutchinson came into the defense, with the captain for the day, Stuart Morrison stepping into the base of midfield. Rory MacLeod returned on the wing.

Despite freshening things up, the Loons got off to a slow start and Clyde were almost ahead after four minutes. Former Forfar midfielder Ross Forbes delivered a swinging free kick which was nodded onto the outside of the post.

Forbes was again the danger man after 15 minutes. Matty Allan’s slip allowed the midfielder to rush into the ball where he tried an audacious lobbed effort from 35 yards but the ball hit the corner of the post and bar and bounced clear.

Forfar played their way into the game and created a good chance after 20 minutes. Euan Mutale found Brindley with space in the box but he fired too close to the keeper.

The Loons were pushing from here and MacLeod just failed to get to a Josh Skelly cross before Brindley picked out the Dundee United loanee but Moore rushed in to take it off his toe and poke just wide.

Clyde had a big chance to take the lead on the stroke of halftime. A deflected cross made its way to two men in maroon on the six-yard line but neither had the conviction to nod beyond McCallum.

Forfar controlled possession in the second half but struggled to break down a strong Clyde defence and it was the visitors who took the lead in spectacular fashion after 70 minutes. Connor Young’s volley from range wobbled, swerved, and dipped beyond McCallum and into the back of the net.

The Loons turned to the substitutes bench and Craig Thomson caused problems for the visitors. He had a great chance with ten minutes to go but his shot was well saved.

It looked as though time would run out for the Loons and they were headed for the bottom of the league when up stepped the skipper, who rifled a rocket in to the top corner from all of thirty yards in the final minute of the 90.

The Loons pushed for a winner during the considerable injury time period but Nditi and Paterson both flashed efforts over the bar.

Loons manager Ray McKinnon commented after the match, “It was a good response to a wonder goal from Clyde but we created chances and were the better team second half. We had 3 or 4 good opportunities but need to start hitting the back of the net”. Ray McKinnon was also keen to give credit to Craig Thomson coming back after 10 weeks away and playing today further adding “Unfortunately Thomson is away again for the next 4 weeks due to work commitments but he wanted to play today and that’s a credit to him, but it was a risk as he hasn’t trained. We look forward to him coming back to the squad once his Fire Brigade training is finished.”

The draw keeps the Loons afloat in the cinch League Two table and they now face three tough away games on the bounce, the first of which is at New Dundas Park next weekend.