Malcolm hails impact of new boys in Loons win

Stuart Malcolm was delighted with his new-look Forfar side which seemed reinvigorated as they gave their survival hopes a boost with a deserved victory over Danny Lennon’s Clyde.

The Forfar boss was delighted with his side’s showing.

“It was a test of character after last week and the boys stood up to the challenge,” he said.

“We bounced back with three points and a good performance.

“In the first half we created chances and in the second half we managed the game very well and we deserved our three points.

“The new signings gave us a massive boost. They’re natural wide players, they’ve got energy and legs and they gave us everything that we asked for.”

It was Malcolm’s charges who started the brighter of the sides.

January signings Steven Doris and Robbie Leitch provided a much-needed spark for the Loons going forward but both sides struggled to carve out any chances.

It was in the 19th minute when the first sight at goal was created and the home side made it count.

Good work on the wing from another new signing, Bobby Barr, freed Steven Doris who cut the ball back to Leitch.

His shot appeared to strike the hand of a Clyde defender but as his Forfar colleagues protested, the ball ricocheted to Jordan Kirkpatrick who tapped home from close range.

Forfar looked a different side to the one which had seen them sit six points behind their visitors and in the relegation zone at the start of play and their dominance continued, with Kirkpatrick, Doris and Callum Tapping all coming close to doubling the Loons’ advantage.

It took until the 40th minute for Clyde to force their way into the game. Ally Love was on the end of Gregg Wylde’s cross but Forfar keeper Marc McCallum was equal to the striker’s volley.

Clyde did have their equaliser in the 52nd minute. Substitute Chris Johnstone’s cross fell to Barry Cuddihy and he lashed a volley into the back of McCallum’s net.

Forfar’s advantage was restored less than three minutes later however.

Steven Doris’ neat hold-up play presented Kirkpatrick with acres of space and he made no mistake, rifling home from the edge of the box, leaving David Mitchell rooted.

Forfar’s dominance continued and they should have pulled away in the 75th minute. Bobby Barr switched the ball to Falkirk loanee Leitch, but his driven shot kissed the post on its way behind for a goal kick.

Malcolm said: “We were composed and overall we were excellent. I’m very, very pleased.”