The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bain on the mark for new-look Loons
FORFAR 1 AYR UNITED 0
Forfar Athletic began their pre-season campaign with a win over League 1 champions Ayr United.
Midfielder Jamie Bain was the goal hero as the Loons wore their new sky blue home kit for the upcoming campaign.
New player-assistant manager John Baird was delighted with the result.
“The squad was a bit stretched today and I think at the start of the game you could see we were a new side,” he said.
“We were a bit disjointed but I think we got it together by halfway through the first half.”
The first half definitely had the feel of a pre-season opener with both sides failing to carve out any real chances.
Only Daniel Harvie tested Marc McCallum with a header midway through the half but the keeper gathered at the second time of asking.
The game gathered intensity in the second half with the introduction of Ayr’s Lawrence Shankland.
The Honest Men forward came closest to scoring three minutes into the second half after McCowan played him through and after cutting inside he blasted wide with the goal at his mercy.
Forfar – without Dale Hilson, Matthew Kennedy and Matty Aitken as well as boss Jim Weir, who is competing in Ironman Austria – took the lead after 63 minutes when makeshift winger Jamie Bain lobbed Hare-Reid like a seasoned striker after a ball over the top.
Ayr improved after the goal with both Shankland and McCowan testing Forfar substitute keeper Willie Muir.
Baird admits he hopes the Loons, who face further friendlies against Morton, Formartine United and Hearts, can make the top four this season.
“I would hope we would not be far away from the play offs,” said the former Dundee and Raith Rovers attacker.
“If we can get a couple more players it will give us a better indication in the next couple of weeks where we are.”