More derby day blues for ‘pedestrian’ Loons

FORFAR 0 MONTROSE 0

It is fair to say the Angus derby matches will go a long way to deciding the eventual League Two champions this season.

While Forfar have led from the front for much of the campaign, their results against their nearest neighbours have the potential to cost them dear.

The Loons have taken only five points out of a possible 18 from their matches against Arbroath and Montrose and the Gable Endies ensured Forfar dropped another two on Saturday with a battling draw, which was the least Stewart Petrie’s side deserved.

That allowed Arbroath to narrow the gap to six points and with two more derbies still to come this season, Forfar boss Gary Bollan knows his side can’t afford many more slip-ups.

“I thought we were our own worst enemy at times today,” he said.

“We didn’t move the ball quick enough, we didn’t play the game at any pace or to our own strengths.

“It is another point, however, it keeps us going at the top. But it looked as though there was no urgency about us, it was played at pedestrian pace at times.

“Montrose made it difficult for us but the players we wanted to get on the ball and do something for us today, maybe just didn’t do that.”

The visitors started well and Ryan Ferguson was denied an opener in the sixth minute when he curled in a shot from just inside the box only for Grant Adam to brilliantly push it away.

In contrast, Forfar were all over the place and it took until the 32nd minute for them to get in a decent shot, Gavin Swankie dipping a long range effort just over the bar.

It was the home side, however, who went closest in the first half when a clever free-kick saw a neat strike from Martyn Fotheringham deflected inches past the post.

Graham Webster went just as close for the visitors at the start of the second half and at the other end Swankie forced Jordan Millar into a good block.

But neither side could make the breakthrough and Montrose fully deserved their point.

Petrie said: “It was a really good point for us.

“I thought we did even better in the second half than in the first half, against the elements and playing into the wind.

“If you don’t get beat in a derby game, you have done fine and they are a good side so we are happy with a point.”