The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fabulous Forfar in control
PLAY-OFFS: Loons in driving seat for second leg at Stranraer
FORFAR ATHLETIC 3 STRANRAER 0
Fabulous Forfar will take a three-goal lead with them on the long road down to Stranraer thanks to Omar Kader, Gavin Swankie and sub Kerr Hay.
The Loons were deserved winners of this SPFL Championship semi-final play-off first leg at Station Park, and the score probably flattered the visitors.
Kader fired home just after the hour, Swankie netted a beautiful chip with three minutes to go, then Hay drove the ball home in stoppage time.
Given the chances they created, Dick Campbell’s men probably should be in a more comfortable position heading to Stair Park on Saturday, but they will still be happy with the three.
As expected, Campbell handed 18-year-old Michael Kennedy his firstteam debut at left-back.
Michael Dunlop was suspended after his red card in the heart-breaking home defeat to Ayr United on Saturday.
In came Kader after being used as a substitute against the Honest Men, along with Derek Young.
The men to miss out were the injured Dale Hilson and Gavin Malin, who dropped to the bench.
The Loons kicked off, and within a minute threatened the visitors’ goal with a Stuart Malcolm header off a Martyn Fotheringham corner.
On 15 minutes Forfar had rapid-fire chances when Danny Denholm’s cross was met at the near post by Kader but the shot was saved by keeper Derek Mitchell, then a goal-bound strike from Swankie was deflected for a corner.
The hosts had a penalty claim on 21 minutes when Denholm went down, but referee Stephen Finnie waved play on.
Five minutes before the break, Forfar should have scored when Denholm broke clear. He had only Mitchell to beat, but the goalie saved with his leg.
After passing up so many opportunities in the first half, the hosts almost fell behind on 50 minutes when a Willie Gibson corner was met by the head of Jamie Longworth. Loons keeper Rab Douglas did a great job to keep it out.
The ball then fell perfectly for Frank McKeown, who shot wide.
Swankie struck the bar for Forfar on 58 minutes, and when the ball bounced down it was fired past by Kader.
Swankie had another go just seconds later but his volley was saved.
Forfar got the lead they deserved on 61 minutes. A sweeping move should have been finished by Chris Templeman but his header was brilliantly saved by Mitchell at point-blank range. The rebound fell for Kader, who slammed it home from just a couple of yards.
Home sub Hay hit the post and then blasted the rebound over.
With three minutes left, Swankie looked up from the edge of the box and chipped the ball over Mitchell.
Hay then slammed home a low shot in stoppage time to make it 3-0. Attendance: 717. Forfar: Douglas, Travis (Malin 89), Malcolm, Dods, Kennedy, Kader (Hay 72),Young, Fotheringham, Denholm, Templeman (Smith 74), Swankie. Subs not used: Clark, Dale, Yeates, King. Booked: Denholm, Dods, Travis and Malcolm.
Stranraer: Mitchell, Pettigrew, Rumsby, McKeown (McShane 75), Longridge, Bell, Robertson, Winter, Stirling (Malcolm 69), Gibson, Longworth (Stoney 68). Subs not used: Russell, Tobin. Booked: Robertson, Longridge.
Referee: Stephen Finnie.