Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 0

Forfar fans would leave a baking Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park feeling relieved and optimistic at the same time after Saturday’s 1-0 win against Stranraer.

Jim Weir sent out an unchanged 11 to the one that defeated Arbroath last weekend and this consistent team-approach certainly helped Forfar to dominate this tie. In truth, the Loons had enough chances to have scored more than just one goal, having 18 shots versus Stranraer's 2. On the other hand, Chris Aitken, Stranraer's manager, fielded a host of new faces, many of whom were recruited lately from West of Scotland League teams. That said, Stranraer would go into the tie surely feeling hopeful after a good League Cup campaign that saw their only defeat to SPFL hopefuls Partick Thistle and with a fine win against Queen of the South.

Craig Slater looked busy from the get-go, commanding the centre of the park and in 4 minutes he found Lewis Lorimer, whose shot was deflected for a corner kick which came to nothing. At the same time, Ross MacLean had found some great form as he had a fine run, going on to link up in style down the left-hand side with Chris Scott in support. This first passage of play saw plenty of Forfar possession, but play too often breaking down, with the home team being awarded a series of free kicks. In the 13th minute, Stranraer got a free kick of their own, only to see it badly scuffed nowhere by left-back Finn Ecrepont.

In 18 minutes, Forfar had a couple of chances, with Slater and Lewis Martin having shots charged down around the Stranraer box. Slater continued to link well in the midfield and in 26 minutes, saw his long-range effort ping off the post, after taking a wicked deflection. Ross MacLean would then show the crowd some great skills; firstly cutting inside the Stranraer defence, his shot easily taken by Joshua Lane in the Stranraer goal and then a couple of minutes later saw MacLean, again involved in a great attacking move, only to see Martin Rennie dispossessed at the edge of the area. Meanwhile, Forfar stood tall at the back, with captain Stuart Morrison and left back Chris Scott calmly dealing with any Stranraer incursions.

In 36, Stranraer were given their first corner of the game, and in an untidy scramble around the 6-yard line, Stranraer's Scott Rough somehow managed to squeeze the ball in to the grateful arms of Forfar number 1 Marc McCallum, who would have little else to do for most of the afternoon.

In 38 minutes, Forfar having been awarded a free kick, Stuart Morrison towering to meet Slater’s pinpoint cross; Morrison heading the ball into the net, to make it 1-0 to the home team. A couple of decent runs followed - through midfield - by Angus Mailer and Scott Shepherd, still working tirelessly in the centre of the park, saw the half-time whistle go with home fans feeling that the Loons could have had more.

The second half started where the first left off, with MacLean and Slater linking nicely. Stranraer then had Evan Dunne booked for what must have been consistent fouling and then Lewis Hunter went into Jordan Curran's book too. In 54 minutes, Forfar’s Scott Shepherd hit a smart 12-yard volley, following a spill from Stranraer's number 1, Lane. Ross MacLean continued to be threatening down the left-hand side and had already been the victim of a couple of fouls as he would cut inside the Stranraer defence time and again.

In 57 minutes, MacLean was scythed down, once more, with Evan Dunne receiving a second yellow card and therefore a red for another cynical offence. Stranraer immediately made substitutions, with Sallu Turay straight away catching the eye with nice movement and a couple of mazy runs with the ball. Forfar then dominated play for much of the half, with MacLean and Slater both coming close. In 68 minutes, though, Stuart Morrison found himself being forced into making a goal-saving tackle on Stranraer’s Toru, with the winger clean through on the Forfar goal otherwise.

Forfar’s Craig Slater was then on the receiving end of a nasty challenge which held up play, but gladly, he was able to run the knock off. MacLean then had a shot brush the top of Josua Lane’s bar in 73 and then Jim Weir changed things for the Loons, by replacing Lorimer and Rennie with the popular Kieran Inglis and the pacy Jamie Richardson. Another couple of Forfar attacks and the Forfar management decided to replace Ross MacLean - who had run himself into the ground for 80 minutes - being replaced by Nathan Cannon. Unfortunately Cannon would be yellow carded not long after coming on, after losing the ball and then fouling Stranraer’s Mark Russell.

In 87, Forfar’s Richardson had a great chance to put the game to bed, meeting a Shepherd cross. Richardson again had sight of goal, this time his curling shot inches away from the far post. The last few minutes were somewhat elongated and nervy, and the crowd was also treated to the sight of Stranraer sending up their keeper, Lane, for a last-chance-saloon corner kick, which was cleared by Forfar. We then almost saw the farce of Lane facing a foot race with Forfar’s Jamie Richardson, but the Stranraer stopper got to the ball first.

The injury time minutes of this match, as Stranraer huffed and puffed, and as Forfar had plenty of chances to score a second goal, maybe would have had the home fans with their heads in their hands as they remembered so many afternoons like this: Forfar having so much possession and so many chances, without having finished matches off. On this occasion though, the Loons held out and indeed, at another time could have won this game far more easily than this slender score line suggests.

Clyde away next weekend, with Forfar fans expected in good number and good voice, as this season continues to breed optimism, confidence and anticipation around this group of players, management and the season ahead.

Man of the Match: Stuart Morrison

Crowd: 651

Match report by Alex Colquhoun