East Craigie v Forfar Albion (reporter Stephen Durcan, East Craigie)
There was unfinished business to attend to as East Craigie and Forfar Albion locked horns once again just a fortnight after an epic 3-3 draw in Angus. That result was unexpected but fair and it shows that football can often conjure up the unexpected. With this being Burns night I'll leave it to the Bard to explain things better, "The best laid schemes o' mice and men gan aft agley". Both sides made changes from that previous encounter with the hosts making four and the visitors two alterations to their starting eleven. The Shipbuilders squeezed in a midweek friendly and impressively disposed of Jeanfield Swifts 4-1 on a 3G surface in Dundee. A very warm welcome to Craigie's Dylan Harkin, making his competitive first team debut today.
Now, I've been very spoiled this season with my pen being called into action right from the off. Today was different. The first 20 minutes was one long midfield battle as both sides struggled for ascendancy. The only action of note in that time was a pitch invasion by one G. Rowler (think about it) who raced onto the pitch to retrieve a ball thrown by its owner. It didn't go unnoticed by the referee who briefly stopped play. Game on....
On 23 minutes East Craigie attacked with pace and went ahead. Rory Faulkner raced down the left and slipped the ball across goal for GEORGE JOHNSTON to sidefoot home. On the half hour Jamieson for Forfar lifted a free-kick well over the crossbar. Minutes later Finlay Baird played the ball into the path of Adam Brown and the home number 7 saw his shot tipped over by keeper Hill. A mention to Scott Brannan who was commanding at the heart of the Craigie defence, dealing with everything the Albion forwards could muster.
On 36 minutes Faulkner was twice denied by Hill in the visiting goal. Three minutes later Forfar were level and what a way to equalise.....DYLAN STEPHEN with a "well, why not" attitude, took pot luck from 25 yards out and watched as the ball sailed over the home keeper.
HALF-TIME: East Craigie 1 Forfar Albion 1
Just into the second period Johnston was caught flat-footed by Kidd who robbed the striker in midfield then drove over from distance. The former was more alert on 52 minutes as he picked up a ball into the box, turned delightfully and poked narrowly wide of the Albion post. The busy Johnston then ran towards goal before shooting wide. On the hour mark Crosby ran in from the corner flag and drove over the Craigie bar.
Conan Howett replaced Harkin and was immediately involved when he had a shot saved by the Forfar keeper. Seconds later his introduction proved priceless as he played the ball through to hotshot JOHNSTON to tap home from close range. Once again he was in the right place at the right time to take his season's tally to 26. Back came Albion with a timely run through defence from substitute Rennie who picked up Stephen's through ball but hesitated before firing wide.
The lively Howett then nicked the ball from the feet of an Albion defender, advanced on goal and shot inches wide of the far post. Stephen may regret attempting a volley from 30 yards out on 85 minutes as the ball rose and rose and disappeared into the atmosphere. It took until the 90th minute to finally put the game to bed with Brown slipping the ball across goal to BAIRD who smashed home East Craigie's third. Screams for offside from the visiting contingent in what was a very close thing to call.
A golden chance to level fell to Albion's Wilson deep into stoppage time but, with just the keeper to beat, his tired shot was easily saved. The last chance of the encounter fell to Baird who fired an effort over the Forfar crossbar. East Craigie ran out the final moments to seal the victory which took them back to the top of the table.
FINAL SCORE: East Craigie 3 Forfar Albion 1
MAN OF THE MATCH: Finlay Baird
EAST CRAIGIE: Ross, Reekie, Christie, Malone, Brannan, Baird, Brown, Harkin (Howett 62), Faulkner, Johnston, MacLeod. UNUSED: McDonald, Moran, Conway.
FORFAR ALBION: Hill, McLeish, Jones, Jamieson, Sturrock, Kidd, Penman, Stephen, Black (Rennie 67), O. Wilson, Crosby (Mooney 73). UNUSED: B. Wilson, Alexander.
