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FORFAR ATHLETIC 1–1 COVE RANGERS (3-1 pens)

A much improved performance saw the team get off the mark in Group E of the Premier Sports Cup, and but for a succession of missed chances, it would have been a first win of the campaign. We had to come from behind, Connor Scully adding another superb finish to his already impressive highlights reel, but we failed to take the bonus point, Forfar prevailing 3-1 in the shootout.

Paul Hartley made three changes from the midweek defeat and altered the formation, going with a back three of Doyle, Josh Kerr and Finlay Murray. The latter two were brought into the side, Finlay for his Cove debut.

Will Gillingham was ruled out with an ankle injury, Milosz Ochmanski dropped to the bench, and Balint Demus took over from Nick Suman in goal as the manager continued his plan of alternating the keepers for the Premier Sports Cup ties.

Wearing the new all-black away kit, the side nearly created an opening in the first minute, Fyvie drilling a long ball over the top for Grady McGrath to run on to, but the striker had gone just too early, and was flagged offside.

Forfar hit back, forcing a corner on the right, and from that both Russell McLean and Reekie had shots blocked, Kerr requiring treatment from the second of those after the ball had caught him full in the face.

Soon after, following more pressure in the box, Ross MacLean saw his deflected shot saved comfortably by Demus, and the big keeper was called into action again within seconds, scrambling across his line to make an excellent stop, clawing away McLean’s looping header.

Cove stemmed the flow in the twelfth minute, earning a free-kick thirty yards out. Fyvie’s delivery was half-cleared, Harrington gathering and unleashing a long-range shot, but his effort flew wide of the left post.

Connor Scully then battled through two challenges and laid the ball off to McGrath, but Grady was outnumbered and Matty Allan was able to clear.

The home were handed a controversial corner in the eighteenth minute which Whatley fired into the area and McLean headed goalwards, but Demus was alert, and clutched the ball to his chest.

Arron Darge and Declan Glass combined to create a couple of openings, but in both cases McGrath was closed down, then the striker did get away in behind, but McCallum was quickly off his line to snuff out the chance.

The home side snatched the lead in the twenty-first minute. MacLean delivered from the left, Russell McLean gathered and laid the ball off into the path of Blair MALCOLM, and the midfielder cleverly curled a shot round the defenders and inside Balint’s left post.

We looked to be denied a stonewall penalty in our next attack when Taylor clearly clipped Darge, bringing him down in the box, but referee Calder waved away our claims.

Back came Forfar, and from Cannon’s cross, Reekie hammered in a powerful angled drive which Demus did well to beat away.

In what was a frantic first half, Declan Glass was next to have a go, weaving away from two markers before shooting towards the near post. It was a fine effort, but McCallum was able to push it wide. Ryan Harrington then fired in an inviting cross, but as the ball flashed across the six yard box there were no takers.

The equaliser came just past the half hour mark, and it was a quality goal. Declan Glass chipped a superb ball over the top which Connor SCULLY controlled on his chest before firing low past the keeper from a tight angle.

Blair Yule showed great tenacity to battle his way into the box, but McCallum grabbed the delivery, and the midfielder then found himself free in the area but headed well wide from Glass’s cross.

Finlay Murray won a determined header, finding Scully, and Connor immediately sent Blair Yule running clear into the box. With defenders closing in on him, the midfielder tried to find Declan Glass, but his pass was intercepted by Allan.

Klimionek earned the game’s first booking for crudely pulling back Glass, who had nutmegged the central defender, and from the resultant free-kick Scully curled in a superb twenty-five yard effort, McCallum only just getting across to make the save.

The game continued to be an open one after the interval, both sides probing for openings, and Fraser Fyvie was unfortunate to be booked when adjudged to have challenged with a high boot. The ensuing free-kick was saved comfortably, and when we countered, McGrath teed-up Connor Scully on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s low shot looked to be heading just inside the far post, but McCallum dived full-stretch to touch it wide.

Forfar came close when Whatley curled in a corner and McLean, who looked to be impeding Demus, headed over from close range.

The home side made a triple change, and at the same time, Paul Hartley gave Myles Gaffney a run out in place of Grady McGrath.

Midway through the half, Mikey Doyle surged upfield before laying the ball off for Gaffney and the striker was unlucky, McCallum getting his fingertips on the ball to save his angled left-foot shot.

From the corner, Scully found Josh Kerr free in the box, but the defender could only head wide of the left post. We almost broke through with fourteen minutes left. Glass gathered and laid the ball off to Mark Gallagher – who had come on to replace Blair Yule – and when the midfielder crossed low, Scully was inches away from making contact.

Cove were dominating at this stage, enjoying plenty possession and playing some attractive football, but Forfar were holding out, getting in blocks and last-gasp tackles to keep clear cut chances down to a minimum. We did carve one out in the eighty-fifth minute, Gaffney teeing up Gallagher, but Mark’s fifteen-yard shot flew over.

Gaffney then forced a late corner, and from Connor Scully’s excellent delivery, Finlay Murray headed against the left upright. Harrington was quickly on to the rebound, but his cross was cleared, then Gallagher drilled in another shot which McCallum pushed wide.

It was to be the last action of the ninety minutes, the sides taking a brief rest before embarking on the shootout for the bonus point.

Skelly was first up for Forfar, Demus pulling off an excellent save, but Fyvie saw his spot-kick saved, and the home side took control, scoring three in a row. Declan Glass netted for us, but Kerr’s penalty was saved and when Mark Gallagher hit the left post, the home side secured the extra point.

FORFAR ATHLETIC (5-4-1): McCallum; Allan (c), Reekie, Hutchinson, Klimionek (Robson 46), Taylor; Cannon, Whatley (Inglis 61), Malcolm (Franczak 78), MacLean (Cocks 61); McLean (Skelly 61)

Substitutes: Paris

Goalscorers: Malcolm (21)

Booked: Klimionek (41)

COVE RANGERS (3-5-2): Demus; Doyle, Kerr, Murray; Darge, Yule (Gallagher 69), Fyvie (c) Scully, Harrington; Glass, McGrath (Gaffney 62)

Substitutes: Suman, Ochmanski, Strachan, Donaldson, Milnes

Goalscorers: Scully (31)

Booked: Fyvie (51), Scully (74)

Referee: George Calder

Attendance: 458

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