IT’S GR-EIGHT TO BE CLEAR
Bollan tells Arbroath: Pressure’s on you
Forfar boss Gary Bollan says their table-topping derby against Arbroath at Gayfield next week is massive – for his rivals.
The Station Park outfit have an eight- point lead af ter Dale Carrick’s opener for the Blue Brazi l was cancelled out by second- half strikes from Josh Peters, Thomas O’Brien and Lewis Milne.
And while the Red Lichties have beaten Forfar twice this term, Bollan believes all the pressure is on them to close the gap.
He said: “If next week’s game is big for us then it’s huge for Arbroath.
“We are going there eight points clear and while they have
turned us over twice this season we will be fired up for that game.
“The fact we are still ahead shows just shows how well we have coped in other games.”
Forfar were poor in the first half as they struggled without the creativity of Gavin Swankie. The league leaders failed to even test Cowden No.1 David McGurn in a dire first half.
And they fell behind after 16 minutes as a Lewis Moore flickon was met by Carrick who headed home from six yards.
For long spells of the first half bottom club Cowdenbeath were belying their struggling status. And it could have been even better for them had Fraser Mullen made a better fist at a 25-yard free-kick instead of blasting over.
The second half was delayed by 15 minutes after referee Colin Steven had to pull out of the game through injury. Forfar sent out an SOS and a local ref from nearby Kirriemuir rode to the rescue.
With Ryan Oliver now in charge the game began to open up and the visitors had two chances to double their lead in 54 minutes.
Firstly, Kris Renton shot wide from 10 yards then Carrick was thwarted by Forfar keeper Grant Adam.
The home No.1 then wasted no time in turning defence into attack and found Peters down the right f lank. He cut to the byeline and while he initially appeared to overhit his cross the ball dipped into the top corner for the equaliser.
The hosts took the lead after 69 minutes when O’Brien met a Mi lne corner to power in a close-range header.
Forfar’s third goal – on the 78-minute mark – was a thing of beauty.
Milne picked up the ball and from 25 yards blasted a stunning strike beyond McGurn.
Cowden boss Liam Fox said: “We showed how well we can play in the first half and could have been 2-0 up seconds before Forfar equalised.
“It’s those kind of fine margins that can kill you in this game.”