Forfar Athletic 2 – 1 Arbroath
Arbroath suffered defeat today at Station Park as a last minute strike from Lewis Moore sealed all 3 points for the hosts.
The Lichties started the game on top and the strike force of Ryan Wallace and Steven Doris were causing the Forfar defence early problems as the pair linked up well.
Forfar keeper Marc McCallum made his first stop of the afternoon when he denied Ryan Wallace who had struck a fierce strike at goal only to be denied by the keeper.
Michael McKenna gave Arbroath the lead in the 19th minute when his low strike from a Jason Thomson cross found its way past McCallum and allowed the large traveling away support to celebrate.
Arbroath were worthy of their lead but couldn’t find the second goal to kill the game.
Darren Jamieson hadn’t much to do in the opening 30 minutes but did well to push over a dangerous cut back from underneath his bar at the expense of a corner kick.
In the 37th minute a foul by Thomas O’Brien allowed Dale Hilson to line up a free kick and he made no mistake leaving Jamieson helpless as he curled the ball into the top corner.
The goal lifted Forfar and Jamie Bain and Gary Irvine both had shots towards goal before the half time whistle blew.
Arbroath again started the second half well and most fans believed Steven Doris had scored but his header was a whisker wide as he brilliantly latched onto a Bobby Linn cross in the 47th minute.
The Lichties pressed with Mark Whatley again sending Marc McCallum diving across goal with the midfielders strike also just wide.
Bobby Linn stepped up to take a free kick with the ball bouncing off the chest of McCallum before Hamilton came close in the 64th minute.
Bobby Linn suffered a sore one to his knee and couldn’t continue with David Gold replacing him before Danny Denholm replaced Ryan Wallace both in the 67th minute.
Greig Spence came on for Steven Doris who had worked tirelessly in the 70th minute.
Forfar were gaining more possession yet Darren Jamieson had really not had a shot to save.
Marc McCallum again made a brilliant save, this time denying McKenna in the 78th minute.
Forfar stepped up their possession and John Baird had a shot saved by Jamieson in the 87th minute.
However with just a minute on the clock Lewis Moore found time to turn and shoot. Despite Jamieson getting a touch the shot was too powerful and spun into the net. There was anger amongst the Arbroath players who felt that Gavin Swankie was fouled twice in the build up to the goal.
Deep into injury time and once again Marc McCallum came to the rescue for Forfar as he made another defining save as he once more denied McKenna.
Full time – A bitter blow in the hopes for the Lichties Title bid as we suffered only our second away defeat of the season.
Results elsewhere mean the Lichties lead at the top has been cut down to 10 points with 15 left to play for.
Another huge came next week with the visit of Montrose to Gayfield.
We hope you will be there
C’mon the Lichties!
