Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 1

Forfar were held to a draw in a match where they had enough chances to win several times over at Station Park.

The Loons made a couple of changes to the front line from the win at Tranent. Josh Skelly and Seb Ross came in for Ryan Paterson and Euan Mutale.

Forfar started brightly and dominated the opening period. Both Andy Munro and Josh Skelly tried efforts from range but they fizzed wide and were saved respectively.

It didn’t take long for the Loons to get themselves in front. A corner was flicked on at the front post and Matty Allan was on hand to nod in his second in as many games.

Forfar continued to dominate and passed up several opportunities to double their advantage in the first half. The best chance fell to Seb Ross who headed straight at the keeper from eight yards, moments after Finn Robson had grazed the post from range.

The second half continued much in the same vein and Andy Munro tested the goalkeeper with a header early on.

The visitors were lucky not to go down to 10 men when Seb Ross was prevented from running through on goal by Cameron Williamson. The referee deciding a booking was a worthy punishment to the furor of the home fans.

It is perhaps a sign of Forfar’s luck at the moment that Stranraer scored in the manner they did. Their first shot of the game came after 60 minutes and was a free kick from 25 yards which was fired low by Oliver McDonald but bounced off the wall, into the ground, and over Marc McCallum via the crossbar.

It was a bitter blow for the Athies whose backbone had rarely been tested but the Loons set about finding a winner almost immediately. Seb Ross had the opportunity at the front post after Roberto Nditi did brilliantly but he didn’t get enough on his header at the front post and the chance went begging.

Stranraer were again fortunate to keep their full complement of players in the 68th minute. Matty Grant scythed down Roberto Nditi with a horrendous scissor challenge from behind but again, the referee incensed the home crowd and brandished a yellow card. Andy Munro would head narrowly over from the free kick.

Josh Skelly passed up Forfar’s best opportunity to win the game when a cross was floated in from the left. He had all the space in the world from 6 yards out to find the net but couldn’t get over the ball and it floated just over the bar.

Stranraer’s only other shot would come with the last kick of the game when a free kick was headed narrowly over the bar.

The point is a frustrating one for the Athies, who will know they should have been out of sight but there are plenty of positives to take from what was an impressive performance on the day.

The Athies travel to the capital next week to take on The Spartans, where a win could see them climb to sixth in the table.