Frustrated Loons boss pledges changes before next season

FORFAR 1 QUEEN’S PARK 1

Forfar brought the curtain down on their home campaign with an all-too familiar performance that left manager Jim Weir frustrated and promising changes for next season.

The Loons drew 1-1 with Queen’s Park, a result that leaves the Spiders’ fate out of their own hands as they trail relegation rivals Albion Rovers by two points ahead of next weekend’s final fixture.

Despite patches of good play after taking the lead through Ross MacIver, Forfar never looked like putting the game beyond Gus McWilliam’s side and it was only thanks to the utter brilliance of keeper Marc McCallum in goal that they took anything at all from the game.

“We got the goal through the young lad showing a bit of desire to chase a lost cause and I was delighted for him because he has travelled up and down from Dingwall,” said Weir.

“But I just felt we didn’t get enough of that in certain areas.

“Big players that are important to me and have played in my team all year will have pressure put on them by me over the summer.

“At times they get you there but I need more from the players I showed faith in. We achieved what we set out to achieve and I am grateful for that. But I am not happy at finishing third bottom and not winning at home.

“My goalkeeper had to pull off incredible saves.”

Forfar took the lead after 13 minutes in fortuitous fashion but credit has to go to MacIver for his determination to chase down a pass back to Queen’s keeper Michael White.

The stopper smashed his clearance off the Forfar player who was left with a simple tap-in from inside the six yard box.

Queen’s tried to reply through David Galt and he strung the fingers of McCallum with a fierce 20-yard drive.

McCallum again saved Forfar, blocking with his feet as Aidan Keena looked odds-on to equalise.

The Forfar keeper pulled off an even more spectacular save moments later, tipping a closerange header on to his crossbar to again deny Keena.

The inevitable equaliser came in the 67th minute when Luke Donnelly pounced on a lose ball in the crowded Forfar box and took his time to slot past the stranded keeper.

With eight minutes left, Forfar’s Andy Munro was sent off for a last man challenge on Keena but Donnelly curled the free kick just over the crossbar.