SHIRE 0 FORFAR ATHLETIC 3

There was no happy story for Shire for a second week in a row. Dick Campbell’s Forfar side took the initiative right from kick-off and, after hitting the front inside 20 minutes through on-loan Dundee United man Johnny Russell, never looked back.

Further goals from Russell and one-time Shire signing target Derek Lilley put the vistors on easy street. From a Shire point of view t was certainly an afternoon to forget.

Shire boss Jim McInally promised changes after the defeat at Annan but, in the end, limited himself to just four. Michael Bolochoweckyj, Jimmy Gibson and David Dunn all dropped out with Andy Rodgers, Gary Kelly and Craig Donaldson getting a start. Significantly, the fourth change was at goalkeeper where Greig Mitchell came in for John Hillcoat.

David Nicholls dropped back to the centre of defence as the side lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Rodgers partnering Brian Graham and Colin Cramb in attack.

Shire started last week’s trip to Annan with a goal inside the first sixty seconds, but this time it was Forfar who almost had the boot on the other foot. A long ball was played through for new loan signing Johnny Russell who looked odds-on to give the Loons the perfect start but he was thwarted by a brave diving save at his feet by Mitchell.

After 15 minutes Mitchell again came to Shire’s rescue after former Stirling Albion striker Derek Lilley was put clean through but his attempted lob was just the right height for Mitchell to cling on.

But there was nothing Mitchell could do to stop Forfar taking the lead on 19 minutes. Kevin McLeish’s cross from the right caused all sorts of problems in the Shire box. Lilley had a shot saved by Mitchell and then Russell’s effort was cleared off the line by Eddie Forrest but Shire couldn’t clear the ball and it was ferried out to Russell who eventually scrambled it over the line.

The home team were having problems creating anything, the best they could manage in the opening quarter was a Paul Hay effort at the near post which Ally Brown saved easily.

Two minutes later Rodgers came in off the left wing and fired a first-time shot which Brown got down well to save. After 36 minutes Forfar really should have made it 2-0 when David Dunn got a free header from Sean Kilgannon’s free-kick but the ball went straight into Mitchell’s arms.

Forfar started the second half with a spring in their step and Mitchell was at full-stretch to making a great diving save from Lilley’s shot after 47 minutes and a minute later Dunn headed McLeish’s cross over the bar from six yards out when it seemed easier to score.

After 55 minutes Forfar made it 2-0 with a simple goal. Elliot Smith made progress down the left and crossed for Russell who got the ball tangled up in his feet but still managed to force it over the line from point-blank range.

Two minutes later Russell might have had a hat-trick but his header from a right wing cross crashed off Mitchell’s left-hand post. But the third Forfar goal wasn’t long in coming. Another Smith cross was perfectly-judged for Lilley’s near-post header which flew past Mitchell to make it 3-0.

Shire made a triple substitution on 62 minutes with Kelly, Nicholls and Graham withdrawn and replaced by Dean Richardson, Marc McKenzie and Sean Anderson. But it made little difference to the general tone of the home team’s performance.

Forfar continued to take advantage of Shire’s hesitancy in defence and Lilley was unlucky not to make it 4-0 but, after dragging Forrest out of position, his shot was weak and Mitchell made a comfortable save.

Shire tried to keep going and Craig Tully headed into Brown’s arms from Donaldson’s cross. After 79 minutes Cramb’s deep cross found McKenzie unmarked at the back post but his half volley was blocked on the line by Dunn.

A minute later a McKenzie ball into the box eluded Dunn’s clearance and fell at the feet of Cramb but the Shire striker somehow fired his shot well wide of target when it looked as though he would score.

Forfar had one late chance from a Sean Kilganon free-kick which went well over and Rodgers headed wide from Dean Richardson’s cross.

SHIRE : Mitchell, Hay, Ure, Forrest, Tully, Nicholls(Richardson 62), Donaldson, Kelly(Anderson 62), Cramb, Rodgers,Graham(McKenzie 62).

FORFAR ATHLETIC : Brown, McNally, Smith, Tulloch, Dunn, Winter, McLeish, Russell(Duell 73), Lilley(Campbell 73), Brady(Fotheringham 68), Kilgannon.

REFEREE : D. Somers

ATTENDANCE : 386.