Calamity by keeper hands Forfar victory on return to action

Forfar keeper Marc Mccallum admitted he felt sorry for opposite number Sam Ramsbottom after a comical gift allowed the new-look Loons to climb off the foot of the table with a 1-0 win at Dumbarton.

Manager Stuart Malcolm gave starting debuts to January signings Roberto Nditi, Martin Scott, Grant Anderson, Callum Moore and Jordan Northcott, with Andy Munro also making a first appearance since his return.

Bernard Coll gave an early indication of the desire in the Forfar squad for a winning return to action with a thumping early challenge on the marauding Sam Wardrop.

Munro almost scored midway through the first half when he met Moore’s corner with a header, but the ball flashed wide.

Mccallum made a fine stop on 37 minutes when he pushed away Jamie Wilson’s low drive with Forfar almost making the breakthrough right on half-time through Scott’s hitch-kick, but his effort hit the base of the post and spun to safety.

The winner came in bizarre fashion on 57 minutes, just seconds after a flare-up between Munro and Wilson threatened to get out of hand.

The ball was played into the Dumbarton box where Ramsbottom gathered and threw it to the ground to kick clear – only to drive the ball into the back of teammate Ryan Mcgeever.

Ramsbottom could only chase back in vain as the ball trickled over the line.

Mccallum said: “This was a big result in our season as we are now back in the pack, but I do feel sorry for Sam.”

The Station Park keeper protected his side’s lead 15 minutes later when a fine move involving Adam Frizzell and Stuart Carswell released Wardrop who was denied by the shot-stopper’s legs.