Flu-hit Cox to the double as Loons end run

Striker David Cox got out of his sick bed to grab a double in a even-goal thriller at Coatbridge and take Forfar off the bottom of League One and end an 11-game winless streak.

The former Peterhead and Airdrie player missed training during the week with ‘man flu’– but was cheered up by his brace as Jim Weir’s Loons moved above Queens Park.

“The manager has come in and made it clear we have to give 100% in games or they are not going to be playing,” he said.

“We are starting to pull together as a team and nobody wants relegation on their CV. To come from behind twice was brilliant.”

Forfar went behind after four minutes when Murray MacIntosh tripped Joao Victoria and ref John McKendrick pointed to the spot. Alan Trouten stepped up and cracked the ball past Marc McCallum for his 17th goal of the season for Rovers.

Forfar levelled after 11 minutes when Cox drilled a low 18-yard shot which was turned into his own net by Alan Reid.

Forfar could have edged in front in the dying seconds of the first half but for a fabulous double save from goalkeeper Graham Bowman, who denied both Dylan Easton and Connor Duthie.

McCallum then made a breathtaking full-length save 90 seconds into the second half from a 25-yard drive by Davidson.

It was going to take something special to get past an inspired McCallum and that’s how it transpired in 57 minutes when Trouten knocked the ball to the right to Conor Shields and his driven cross was turned past the goalkeeper by Darren Whyte.

Again the Loons responded in the right fashion and levelled on the hour-mark with a cracking close range header by Cox.

And he grabbed his second 13 minutes from time when Cox toe-poked the ball home from six yards after a Jamie Bain cross.

Forfar made it 4-2 when sub Josh Peters drilled the ball home on the angle from 15 yards but Rovers pulled one back a minute later with a flashing Sean Higgins header from a Davidson cross.

Beaming boss Weir, said: “I’m thrilled for the players and the club.

“We went behind twice and didn’t let it affect us.”