Match Report 

Station Park, Forfar, January 16th 2018

Forfar 1 (Starkey, 16) – 5 Raith Rovers (Osei 9,70 / McCann, 18 / Court 32, 46)

Rovers go seven points clear at the top of the league putting on a show in the snow.

The game opened with a flurry of snow which left a fine dusting of snow on the pitch, fortunately this abated five minutes in, but due to the low temperature it remained there for the duration of the match.
The sides traded shots in the opening minutes, first with Watson shooting narrowly wide then Gill with a shot, or cross which landed on the top of the net.

We were then treated to a striptease from the referee, Mr Fordyce deciding his red top clashed with the Rovers away top and quickly changed into a yellow number.

The first goal came from defence with a long ball that fell to Stevenson and with one touch found Court who released Yaw Osei on the left of the box and a few steps later he sent the ball past Otto at the near post with a shot from 12 yards 0-1

It didn’t take Forfar long to get back in the game, Gill hit a 30-yard free kick into the area, McHattie got a head to it but Brian had to react by tipping the ball out of play to save his blushes.
From the corner, the ball fell to Ben Starkey at the back post who netted from a tight angle 1-1.

Rovers weren’t behind for long, from the restart the ball went back to Brian, his long kick out fell to Osei, his shot came off a Forfar boot straight to Lewis McCann who almost burst the net, leathering the ball home from a few yards out 1-2.

Forfar came forward in numbers and Gill played Starkey through but Brian was on the spot to rob the ball from under his nose.
Rory cleared the ball out to MacDonald and from just inside his own half he opened up the taps, breezing past four defenders and laying off to Osei who spotted Johnny Court free at the back post where he obliged by bulleting the ball into the back of the net 1-3.

At half time Kevin McHattie made way for Euan Valentine, the former getting 45 minutes under his belt on his way back to fitness.

From the restart the Loons gave the ball away in their own half finding it’s way to Johnny Court at the edge of the D, with plenty time to turn and shoot low past the keeper at his right post 1-4.

Rory Brian was enjoying conditions and he was getting good distance with his kick outs which was typified on the 70th minute when he found Court deep on the left, with few defenders on station he crossed to Yaw Osei at the back post, his downward header bounced once and flew past the stranded keeper at the other side of his goal 1-5.

The game wasn’t all Rovers, Forfar had to be at their best to contain tall forward Aitken who had several chances, Gill, Chalmers, Starkey and Kyle Clark were a handful all day but MacDonald and Watson at CB did well to contain their threat.

Rovers moved the ball well going forward but kept the assistant referees busy being flagged offside too often, this included a great chip from Berry to Court who found the net with a header to deny him his hat-trick.

Forfar Athletic Raith Rovers
Jacob Otto Rory Brian
Greg Warwick Kieran Swanson
Connor Samson Kevin McHattie (45)
Sam Clark James Berry
Ryan Stirton Josh MacDonald
Jack Allan Jamie Watson
Jamie Gill Kyle Bell
Josh Chalmers Ryan Stevenson
Matthew Aitken Yaw Osei (75)
Kyle Clark Jonny Court
Ben Starkey Lewis McCann (67)
sub: Paul Moran sub: Kieran Dall (75)
sub: Joseph Johnson sub: Euan Valentine (45)
sub: Ben English sub: Lewis Crosbie (67)
sub: Morgan Miller sub: Trialist
sub: Max Avollio sub: Ross Hain

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