The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Weir happy to win ugly as it brings up hat-trick
FORFAR: Loons boss hails ‘great start’ as gap on Airdrieonians opens up
Forfar Athletic manager Jim Weir has his own personal target of securing three wins in succession – and despite “winning ugly” against Stranraer at Station Park was delighted to have racked up a hattrick of victories courtesy of a hardearned 2-1 success.
The Loons remain fourth, two points behind East Fife, but have now opened up a three-point lead over Airdrieonians.
“I thought the first few minutes we weren’t at our best actually, but we scored a great goal through something we have been working on. So it was a great start.
“After that, I don’t know if it was the conditions or what, but we seemed to lack composure. We were giving the ball away and we could not keep hold of it at all.
“The one thing we don’t have is height so we couldn’t just lump the ball up the park. We seemed to be fighting and struggling for everything.
“Stranraer will probably have been feeling aggrieved they were only level at half-time.
“Second half I thought we were better but it was very hard to split the teams. It seemed to be end to end stuff. It might have been good to watch but wasn’t good to be managing.
“I was delighted to get the late winner, because we lost a late one a few weeks ago at East Fife and that felt sore. So today was a welcome relief that we can do it at the other end.
“I am pleased for the players because it is three wins on the trot.
“We haven’t been at our best, I’m the first to admit that so we have to try and add to the squad in the next few weeks.”
One bonus Weir does have is confirmation that his assistant manager John Baird has agreed an extension to his playing contract, with the former Dundee and Raith Rovers striker, who has 15 goals to his name this season, following in the footsteps of Dale Hilson and committing to Station Park until 2020.
“Hopefully by the time we come to face Arbroath in the next derby we will have a couple of fresh faces,” Weir added.
“It was a good finish from Baird, but this is a team game. And it is important to have that freshness with our substitutes. I was worried he had taken too many touches but I was delighted for Bairdy.”
The win keeps Forfar in the play-off spots and was hugely important given the way the match played out.
The Loons started strongly and made an early breakthrough, taking the lead after just seven minutes with a sweeping attack.
Ross Meechan burst into the Stranraer box and sent an incisive low centre across the face of goal for Dale Hilson to bundle the ball over the line from close range.
However Stranraer levelled in the 25th minute after their own fast counter attack, Mark Lamont sending the centre in to the edge of the box for Innes Cameron to strike the ball home with confidence.
Only the width of the post prevented Stranraer taking the lead in the 36th minute when Adam Cummins’ header came back off the inside of the post and was thumped clear by Forfar’s defence.
Baird had a goalbound effort for Forfar cleared off the line at the start of the second half and the visitors went close with a point-blank shot from PJ Crossan that was deflected wide by the Forfar keeper.
With just three minutes left Forfar grabbed the winner. Baird pounced on a loose ball on the right of the Stranraer box as the defence failed to clear a deflected Matthew Aitken shot and he drilled home from 13 yards.