Forfar hearts broken by stunning saves

AYR UTD 3 FORFAR ATHLETIC 0

Eddie Malone reckoned Ayr keeper Jordan Hart broke Forfar’s hearts with two stunning saves in a 3-0 defeat at the seaside.

Malone, who spent two seasons at Somerset Park earlier in his career, watched in despair as Hart somehow clawed away his netbound header.

Hart was also the home hero in the first-half with the game goalless when he superbly tipped over a drive from Dylan Easton.

Forfar were raging when Craig Moore fired home a hotly disputed penalty at the second attempt after Michael Travis was adjudged to have pulled back Andy Geggan.

Declan McDaid lashed home a shot on the run soon after but Forfar were almost back in it when Malone’s header from a Jamie Bain cross was saved by Hart at full stretch.

The game was put to bed with nine minutes left when Robbie Crawford fired home an Alan Forrest pass.

Malone said: “Goals change games and I thought we were comfortable until the first one went in.

“It was a very, very soft penalty with no contact and he’s given the penalty.

“Even when we went 2-0 down we had chances but the third was a bit of a sucker and killed the game off.”

Loons boss Gary Bollan said: “I’ve not seen the penalty back but I’m a bit upset by it.

“I never saw anything in the build-up to the award and the lads are saying that Andy Geggan, who was allegedly pulled for the penalty, lashed out at Dylan Easton not long before it and could have been red-carded.

“I’ll watch the video back and then air my views when I see it.

“Dylan was foiled by a great save and we had three or four other good chances,” he said.

“I’m really disappointed for the players after the effort they put in. For long periods we matched Ayr.”

Picture: SNS. Eddie Malone said Forfar suffered from a soft penalty and fine display by the Ayr goalkeeper.