Loons secure priceless point after Lister header

forfar: Bollan optimistic his league leaders can turn corner

ELGIN CITY 1 FORFAR ATHLETIC 1

Forfar boss Gary Bollan is confident his team’s winless streak will end soon after they battled for a point at Elgin.

The Loons have gone six league games without victory but the draw gained at Borough Briggs was enough to keep them ahead of title rivals Arbroath.

“It’s been tough for us,” he said. “Every week teams are wanting a bit of us, so it’s up to us not to allow them anything.

“That’s got to start next week. We’ve got to take that into the game at Berwick, start on the front foot and do the things we are good at, as we showed in the early part of the season when we were winning games.

“We’ve got to get back in the mode again. The boys are good players, and our next win will be just round the corner. I’ll make sure of that.”

The Loons are just a point ahead of Arbroath at the top but it could have been worse had Elgin held on to the lead given to them by defender Darryl McHardy.

Jim Lister rescued a vital point for Forfar with a 71st minute header from a cross by full-back Jamie Bain, who was the target of some home protests after an incident moments before the goal.

Bain appeared to haul back Elgin striker Chris McLeish on a run through on goal, and would have been shown a second yellow card if ref Graham Beaton had agreed with Elgin’s appeals for a foul.

Instead he waved play on, sparking fury in the home camp.

Top scorer David Cox tested Elgin keeper Cammy MacKay early on, while Loons keeper Grant Adam did well to turn away Brian Cameron’s angled effort after the City midfielder was slipped clear in the box.

Danny Denholm missed a good chance for the visitors on the half-hour, firing straight at MacKay from 10 yards after a Lister strike was deflected into his path.

Adam was then relieved to see his attempted punched clearance spin over his own crossbar before Elgin drew first blood four minutes after the break.

Archie Macphee picked out the unmarked McHardy at the back post and he nodded home.

Bain’s clash with McLeish was a close escape for the Loons with City’s striker seemingly going clear on goal.

However, Bain proceeded to go up the park two minutes later, setting up veteran Lister for a priceless equaliser.