Lacklustre Loons way off the mark, says Weir

PETERHEAD 1 FORFAR 0

Jim Weir was disappointed after watching his Forfar Athletic side turn in their worst performance of the season in the League 1 defeat at Peterhead on Saturday.

The Loons, who won their opening two games, went behind early in the second half to a Jack Leitch header and missed a golden opportunity to level when Jordan Kirkpatrick nodded wide.

Weir said: “Peterhead deserved to win the game, no doubt.

“I was really disappointed with our performance, particularly in the first half.

“The players have been getting a lot of praise for the way we have been playing recently but today I don’t think we got to grips with the game at all.

“We didn’t create enough or get our wide players into the game. Our choice of pass was terrible, our first touch was terrible and I had a real go at half-time.

“Our goalkeeper has had some top-class saves but we had a good chance to score, Jordan Kirkpatrick at the back post, and sometimes goals change games but today we were way below any performance that I’ve had since the season started.”

A quiet opening to the game saw both sides getting the measure of their opponents and it was Peterhead who were first to work the opposing keeper, a left wing cross from Aiden Smith finding the head of captain Rory McAllister but his 10-yard header went straight at Marc McCallum with 10 minutes on the clock.

Three minutes later McCallum saved well from another header, this time from defender Mick Dunlop following a Jack Leitch corner.

It was Leitch again after 21 minutes, this time with a rasping low drive from 20 yards that McCallum did really well to parry.

Back came Forfar though and Callum Tapping tested Greg Fleming from just outside the penalty area after a drag back created space. Moments later Jordan Kirkpatrick flashed a shot wide.

The second half started with a bang with the Blue Toon taking a 48th minute lead as Cameron Eadie’s cross went right on to the forehead of Leitch to nod the opener from inside the six yard box.

McAllister should have done better after more good work by Eadie but he fired over from an angle.

The Loons should have levelled after 64 minutes when Kirkpatrick headed wide from Andy Jackson’s cross.

After 71 minutes Peterhead should have doubled their lead, with Aiden Smith, Scott Brown then Leitch all having shots saved.