0Match Report
Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir at Station Park, Forfar on 20.12.08
Irn-Bru League Three Att 468
Forfar Athletic 1 [Kilgannon 90 pen] Stenhousemuir 0
For the second time this season Forfar scored a goal in stoppage time against the Warriors this time to secure all three points in this game at Station Park. The goal came from the penalty mark as Sean Kilgannon blasted the ball past Scott Bennett to send the home crowd happy and make it a long journey back to Stenhousemuir for the Warriors contingent.
The penalty award and subsequent goal was a double blow for the league leaders not only due to the lost point but also resulted in the dismissal of Andy Shirra who had handled a Jonny Russell shot that although not obvious to some of the crowd was definite and spotted by referee George Salmond who was well placed when it occurred. The Warriors paid the consequence as they strove to make the breakthrough and were caught on the break when Martin Fotheringham timed his run to get behind the defence before forcing Bennett into a fine save but unfortunately for the custodian the ball fell to Russell and it was his shot that was handled.
Going into the game the manager made a change in defence with Jordan Smith returning after injury and Gary Thom moving to the right back area in place of Craig McEwan with Thom’s extra height and pace more suited to the aerial threat from Forfar set pieces especially Stephen McNally’s long throws and the swift breaks from the Forfar ranks.
There was also a return to the forward line of Scott Dalziel who has been struggling with the injury received at Clachnacuddin and in truth is still not back to the sharpness that he was showing despite being fully committed as usual.
On the bench was Stephen Connelly who signed from Clyde on a short term loan at the end of the week and in his brief spell on the pitch showed some of the potential that caught John Coughlin’s attention.
The game started brightly as it ebbed and flowed from end to end with both teams creating chances. Forfar had the first chance in 11 minutes when a McNally throw was punched clear by Bennett to McNally whose curling effort was well saved. A minute later veteran Derek Lilley had a snapshot just wide. Ally Brown was called into action just pushing a Kevin Motion shot wide in the 18th minute and in an action packed first half Russell fired a shot from the edge of the box off the top of the crossbar two minutes later. The Warriors struck the woodwork shortly afterwards through a superb inswinging freekick by Motion almost from the touchline that clipped the inside of the post but did not go in. This signalled the best spell for the Warriors and when another freekick by Motion was only cleared to the edge of the box Jordan Smith blasted the ball goalwards only to be denied by a first class stop by Brown with the rebound falling to Love whose shot his the top of the bar. At this stage the Warriors looked to be taking control and they had further efforts from Dalziel and Ian Thomson but they did not trouble Brown. The Loons were not out of it though and almost capitalised on a rare John Ovenstone mistake when he had a fresh air swipe that was pounced upon by Kevin Gordon who strode forward before shooting past Bennett but the post came to the rescue. There was another scare before the interval when Smith made a timely clearance as three Forfar players advancing to the six yard line and looked as if one of them must score.
After the action packed first half it was inevitable that there would be a dip in the second but the clearest chance of the game came with nine minutes remaining when a Shirra miss hit shot fell to Thomson who from close range shot over the bar and this miss was to prove costly in the end as the Warriors failed to score for the first time in the league this season.
Forfar Athletic – Brown, McNally Smith, Winter [b38], Tod, Tulloch, Gordon [Simpson 89], Campbell [Fotheringham 79], Lilley[b55] [Kilgannon 75], Russell and G.Gibson. Subs not used – Donachie and J.Gibson.
Stenhousemuir – Bennett , Thom , McGroarty , Smith , Ovenstone , Tyrrell [b59], Love 7[Connelly 72], Thomson , Dalziel [Shirra 79][so 90], Hampshire and Motion . Subs not used – Lyle, McManus and Renton
Referee – George Salmond
Assistants – Morag Pirie and Wes Boulstridge
