Forfar Athletic 2 Elgin City 1

Forfar claimed a long awaited first home victory of the league campaign with an impressive second half showing against Elgin.

The Loons were boosted by the addition of new signings Russell McLean and Tyler Mykyta to the starting XI and the latter almost made an instant impact when his long range effort deflected narrowly wide of the post in the first minute.

The first half was a stuffy affair but Andy Munro managed to force an impressive save from Thomas McHale on the half hour mark.

Elgin edged their way in front after 36 minutes when a quickly taken corner broke for former manager Ross Draper who drilled a volley into the bottom corner of the net.

The Loons responded positively to the set back and thought they’d drawn level three minutes before the break after some lovely play found Munro in the box but the skipper was deemed offside and the goal chalked off.

The Athies took control of the second period and should have drawn level five minutes after the break when Russell McLean floated in a lovely ball but somehow Seb Ross could only head into McHale from close range.

Forfar were pushing and had two good opportunities to equalise from set plays in quick succession. Tyler Mykyta wisely opted to avoid the towering Elgin wall when he stepped up and forced a good save from McHale with the first effort. His second effort was again towards McHale’s side but this time clattered back off the bar.

Mykyta was again at the centre of things when he picked up the ball out wide in the 71st minute and delivered an inch perfect ball for McLean who tapped in to the empty net from close range.

The new boys were linking up well and they almost created a carbon copy of the goal three minutes later but McLean could only head Mykyta’s tantalising cross wide.

Stuart Morrison was next to come close for the Loons when a long ball dropped out of the sky and over the defenders head but his volley went very narrowly wide of the post to deny what would have been a spectacular goal.

Substitute Ryan Paterson had a couple of headed efforts thwarted as the Loons looked for a winner and it was in the 91st minute when the winner eventually came.

Andy Munro was dangerously challenged as he looked to convert a loose ball in the box, Brian Cameron was given his marching orders as a consequence.

As high pressure penalties go, this one was up there but McLean made no mistake and fired into the top corner to cap his second debut with a brace and three points.

The victory means Ray McKinnon’s men leapfrog the visitors in the cinch League Two table as all at the club look forward to hosting Hibernian in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup next time out.