Forfar Athletic 3 – 1 Arbroath
Arbroath were up against it tonight before a ball was even kicked as both Aaron Steele and Captain Thomas O’Brien missed out due to injuries picked up against St Mirren on Saturday.
Arbroath lined up with Derek Gaston in goal and Keaghan Jacobs at right back, Scott Stewart at left back with David Gold partnering Ricky Little in the centre of midfield.
A midfield of Mark Stowe, Joao Balde, Craig Slater and Ryan Dow with Michael McKenna just behind Jay Bird.
Jay Bird tried his luck from 20 yards out in the 7th minute with his rocket of a shot catching out Marc McCallum who did well to use his chest to put the ball out for a corner kick.
But it was Forfar who opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Stuart Morrison headed in a Callum Moore corner from a few yards out.
Derek Gaston saved well from Callum Moore who cut in from the left wing and fired a shot at goal in the 24th minute.
Craig Slater was just over the bar with a free kick in the 38th minute from a free kick just outside the 18-yard-box.
Jay Bird showed great strength to hold off Stuart Morrison before showing composure to curl the ball into the net and level the scoring in the 41st minute.
HT – Forfar Athletic 1 – 1 Arbroath
Possession – Forfar Athletic 52% – 48% Arbroath
Shots – Forfar Athletic 4 – 4 Arbroath
Shots on Target – Forfar Athletic 3 – 2 Arbroath
Shots Off Target – Forfar Athletic 1 – 1 Arbroath
Blocked – Forfar Athletic 0 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – Forfar Athletic 3 – 5 Arbroath
Fouls – Forfar Athletic 6 – 7 Arbroath
Mark Stowe latched on to a pass two minutes after the restart and shot from distance which was just wide of McCallum’s post.
Stowe then again was involved as he raced with the ball at his feet in the 52nd minute but his shot was saved by McCallum.
Forfar retook the lead in the 61st minute when a cross from the right fell to Skelly whose shot was saved by Roberto Nditi was there to bundle the ball into the net to give the Loons the lead.
Forfar were full of confidence and Skelly hit a shot over the bar in the 64th minute before Gaston had to make a good save from substitute Thomson in the 68th minute.
In the 69th minute Leighton McIntosh, Jess Norey and Kenan Dünnwald-Turan all came on for Mark Stowe, Jay Bird and Keaghan Jacobs, which seen Balde move to right back.
As Arbroath tried to attack, Forfar were happy to hit on the counter and Nditi had a long range shot come off the post in the 80th minute.
Scott Allan came on for Ryan Dow in the 84th minute, but again on the break Arbroath were stretched and Skelly got the run on the Arbroath defence and made no mistake to make it 3-1.
Michael McKenna picked up a yellow card in the 89th minute which is second booking in Group H and he will now be suspended for Saturday.
FT – Forfar Athletic 3 – 1 Arbroath
Possession – Forfar Athletic 47% – 53% Arbroath
Shots – Forfar Athletic 13 – 6 Arbroath
Shots on Target – Forfar Athletic 7 – 3 Arbroath
Shots Off Target – Forfar Athletic 1 – 1 Arbroath
Blocked – Forfar Athletic 3 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – Forfar Athletic 6 – 5 Arbroath
Fouls – Forfar Athletic 14 – 10 Arbroath
A tough night for Arbroath and our supporters with the squad stretched with injuries.
Arbroath now welcome Montrose to Gayfield on Saturday for the final match in Group H.
Forfar Athletic
1 – Marc McCallum
2 – Roberto Nditi
5 – Matthew Allan
6 – Stuart Morrison (c)
8 – Callum Moore
9 – Josh Skelly (Watson 89)
10 – Mark Whatley
11 – Kieran Inglis (Paterson 84)
14 – Seb Ross (Brindley 84)
15 – Adam Hutchinson
16 – Finn Robson (Thomson 54)
Forfar Athletic Substitutes
21 – Zach Paris (GK)
7 – Craig Thomson – 16; 54th
18 – Ryan Paterson – 11; 84th
17 – Darren Watson – 9; 89th
19 – Andrew Munro
22 – Cameron Blacklock
3 – Tomas Brindley – 14; 84th
Goals – Morrison 10, Nditi 61, Skelly 86
Yellow Card – Skelly 75
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
7 – David Gold
10 – Keaghan Jacobs (Turan 69)
4 – Ricky Little (c)
12 – Scott Stewart
6 – Craig Slater
25 – João Baldé
14 – Mark Stowe(Norey 69)
8 – Michael McKenna
27 – Jay Bird (McIntosh 69)
11 – Ryan Dow (Allan 84)
Arbroath Substitutes
9 – Leighton McIntosh – 9; 69th
16 – Jess Norey – 14; 69th
23 – Scott Allan – 11; 84th
62 – Kenan Dünnwald-Turan – 10; 69th
21 – Ali Adams (GK)
Goal – Bird 41
Yellow Card – McKenna 90
Officials
Referee: Duncan Williams
Assistant Referee 1: Colin Drummond
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hart
Attendance: 1129
