The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
McIntosh goal earns Angus bragging rights for Lichties at Station Park
Forfar rue missed chances as Arbroath take points
Arbroath moved back into the top four in League One with a narrow derby win at Station Park.
The Loons failed to capitalise on their spectacular away win at league leaders Ayr last weekend and remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Forfar had chances to win the game but manager Jim Weir admitted not being more clinical in front of goal had cost his side dear.
In contrast, the Red Lichties snapped up their opportunity to take all three points, Leighton McIntosh converting the only goal of the game just before half-time.
An even start saw Forfar probing but Arbroath threatening more. An early Tam O’Brien free-kick tested Marc McCallum who pulled off a fine save.
Forfar had two fantastic chances on the half-hour mark after Ousman See burst clear and picked out Josh Peters only for his goal-bound shot to be deflected over by Scott Martin.
Then from the corner See’s header crashed back off the foot of the post.
That let-off encouraged Arbroath and they took the lead three minutes before the interval, despite the efforts of McCallum. He pulled off a brilliant block to deny Ryan Wallace who was clean through.
Forfar failed to clear the loose ball, however, and Leighton McIntosh followed up to drill home a low shot.
Wallace should have doubled Arbroath’s lead seven minutes into the second half when he burst through on goal but McCallum forced him wide and the chance was lost.
Forfar could have equalised after 65 minutes but a poor touch from Peters allowed David Hutton to block and Patrick Cregg just couldn’t get to the loose ball as the net gaped.
Dylan Easton then should have hit the target in the 83rd minute when a quick break caught out Arbroath but he dragged his 12-yard shot wide.
Forfar piled on the pressure and keeper McCallum even came up for a corner in stoppage time but Arbroath defended resolutely and held on for the win that delighted manager Dick Campbell.
“I thought that the first half we were well in control and scored a reasonable goal. We missed a couple of chances too,” he said.
“I knew Forfar would come back at us in the second half but we’ve won 1-0, not lost a goal and won the New Year derby. I don’t think anyone would say we deserved to get beat.
“I thought that to a man we were up for our work.
“Don’t forget that Forfar were on the back of a miraculous result against Ayr United. That kind of motivated us too a bit.”
Campbell was pleased with the debut of Wallace and the showing of McIntosh up front and added that they were again without the services of Gavin Swankie, Campbell sticking to the agreement he made with Forfar not to play him in the derby matches.
“We have done that in three games now so no one can say anything about our integrity. Anyone who saw Swankie on Saturday knew he was outstanding but he took it like a good pro.
“2018 has started well for us, three points and a win in the local derby.”
Campbell added he had no problems with the way referee Mike Roncone handled the match, but Forfar fans and officials were far from happy with many of his decisions.
Weir was careful with his words afterwards, however.
“I thought today some of the big decisions did not go our way. Maybe that’s me being biased, but it wasn’t for the first time.
“I can’t fault the players for their effort. It was disappointing to go a goal down just before half-time and we should have defended better. But we certainly continued from what we did on Saturday.
“We lost the game today through missing our chances.
“We had three or four today, not even half chances – they should have been in the back of the net. When those chances come along we have got to make them count.
“We need to score goals to win games.”
Attendance: 990. Forfar: McCallum, Duthie, McNaughton (Millar 62), Travis, Bain, Aitken, Malone, Cregg, Hornby (Easton 58), See (Cox 67), Peters. Subs not used: Warwick, Lochhead, Starkey, Adam.
Arbroath: Hutton, Little, O’Brien, Hamilton, Whatley, Martin, Yule, Denholm, Linn (Gold 62), McIntosh (Prunty 72), Wallace (Hester 88). Subs not used: Henry, Gomes, McCord.
Referee: Mike Roncone.