Forfar Athletic 2 Stranraer 0

[Saturday, 06 August 2022 22:17]

SPFL cinch League 2
Saturday 6 August 2022
Station Park, Forfar

“Today is the day we got our season started,” was the message from Gary Irvine after a comfortable victory over Stranraer.

It was indeed, a much needed and much deserved first win of the season but the Loons were made to work hard by the visitors and the particularly stubborn Luke Scullion in the Stranraer goal.

The first real action of note was a flavour of what was to come from the young Stranraer keeper. Craig Thomson drove down the right and found Stefan McCluskey who fired towards the top corner but somehow Scullion shifted his weight to tip the ball over the bar.

The first half was played at a frantic pace with little quality but the Athies got the better of the opening period. Craig Slater was denied smartly by Scullion whilst Tomas Brindley, Darren Whyte and Thomson all failed to convert with chances.

Paul Woods carved out Stranraer’s only chance in the 29th minute, forcing a stretching save from Marc McCallum with a low shot.

It wouldn’t take long for the Athies dominance to pay off in the second half. The impressive Aberdeen loanee Kevin Hanratty first had a chance deflected just wide after Thomson’s cross. Clearly not deterred by his near miss, he clipped the ball over his man and raced towards the box before drawing a foul right on the edge. Forfar captain Slater stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved lead in the 54th minute.

The Athies were given a warning when Stranraer came close to an equaliser in the 59th minute. Scott McLean fired narrowly wide after a quick counterattack but it was the Loons who would strike next less than sixty seconds later. Andy Munro attacked a Slater corner which Scullion did well to save. The stopper was powerless, however, to prevent the free scoring centre half from prodding in the rebound. Munro off the mark for the campaign after recording nine last term.

Forfar were in complete control with their two goal cushion and Stefan McCluskey twice could have added more gloss to the scoreline. The first opportunity came after a wonderful move. Matty Aitken slotted through to his strike partner but Scullion did well to block. His second opportunity was close to being one of the more remarkable goals you’ll see. Last seasons top scorer picked up a heavy knock to his elbow but rose to his feet as play developed, raced through on goal and smashed off the underside of the bar whilst still clutching his arm.

“It was unbelievable from Stef. It was typical of him, he’s hurt his elbow joint, really struggling but he gets up to go through on goal. It just shows you his character,” said Irvine on the incredible commitment shown from his striker.

Stranraer would be handed a lifeline in the 87th minute when the referee pointed to the spot after a clumsy challenge from Brindley on Matthew Grant. James Hilton stepped up but McCallum, perhaps aided by the penalty debacle in the same fixture two weeks prior, produced a brilliant save low to his right to ensure all three points would stay at Station Park.

There are plenty of positives to take from the game besides the three points for the ever supportive Loons faithful. Darren Whyte returned from injury to keep a clean sheet, Kevin Hanratty produced his best performance in blue so far and Nathan Flanagan made his Forfar bow replacing the Aberdeen loanee.

Gary Irvine will now prepare his side for a visit from Elgin City, hoping to build on an impressive showing.

Forfar Athletic
1 McCallum
4 Whyte
2 Nditi
19 Munro ⚽️ 60'
3 Brindley 🟨 40'
7 Thomson 🔄 Abed 85'
10 Slater (c) ⚽️ 54'
24 Hanratty 🔄 Armour 70'
12 Moore 🔄 Hutton 80'
11 McCluskey 🔄 Jack 80'
9 Aitken 🔄 Flanagan 70'

Substitutes
6 Hutton
8 Jack
15 Hussain
17 Armour
20 Harkins
21 Sanderson (GK)
22 Abed
23 Irvine
33 Flanagan

Stranraer

1 Scullion

20 Watt

5 Ross

4 Girvan

3 Ellis

6 Brady

18 McLean 🔄 Grant 62'

16 Forrest

7 Hilton

11 Woods 🟨 53' 🔄 Hawkshaw 81'