The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Forfar made to fight for valuable point
forfar: Draw with Elgin allows Arbroath to cut gap to nine points
Anyone thinking it is a coronation in waiting for Forfar Athletic was given a sharp reminder on Saturday that there will be plenty twists and turns before the League Two crown is awarded.
While Forfar boss Gary Bollan admitted the point from the 1-1 draw against Elgin could be more than welcome in the grand scheme of things, it could have been far worse for the Loons.
Third-placed City pushed them hard and were perhaps unfortunate not to take all three points to reduce the gap on Forfar on top of their two games in hand.
As it was, Arbroath moved back to nine points adrift of Forfar, although the Loons very much remain in the driving seat, as Bollan was quick to point out.
“It was a hard point but it could be a valuable one for us,” he said.
“I thought we played reasonably well in the first half and we got our goal.
“But in the second, we did not play as well as we can.
“Credit for Elgin for getting themselves back in the game. Perhaps we could have defended better but it was a wonder goal.”
Bollan agreed things may have been better had his side added to their early strike.
“But some weeks we would score, some we don’t. Unfortunately today we didn’t,” he said.
“We had luck, too, with the one that came off both posts, but that is what the posts are there for and Grant (Adam) made some great saves as he has often done and that is what he is there for also.
“Elgin are a good side and they will take points off other sides, too.”
Both sides finished with 10 men as tempers frayed, and Forfar were the happier to hear the final whistle.
Forfar’s star man David Cox agreed the Loons had perhaps been fortunate to come away with a point.
“To be fair, Grant has made a few saves to keep us in it as he has done the last few weeks. A point is important as they don’t get any closer to us. There are loads of games left.”
Forfar took the lead after six minutes. A corner was floated high into the box and keeper Mark Waters struggled to gather under pressure from David Cox. As the ball bobbled in the crowded goalmouth, Josh Peters got a final touch to force it over the line.
Danny Denholm was denied Forfar’s second at the start of the second half when he stormed into the box and fired in a shot that was brilliantly turned away by Waters.
Adam pulled of an equally fine save to deny Shane Sutherland from the edge of the box. But from the corner, City equalised in the 65th minute when Brian Cameron slammed home a rocket shot after the ball dropped perfectly for him just inside the area.
Lewis Milne was inches away from restoring Forfar’s lead but their job was made harder in the 77th minute when Eddie Malone was shown a straight red card for a lunge at Sutherland.
The numbers were soon evened up when David Brownlie received a second booking.
Elgin’s luck was out when Sutherland beat Adam with a well-placed shot only for the ball to roll along the line via both posts.
“It was a hard point but it could be a valuable one for us. GARY BOLLAN