Open Door Friendly v Kelty Hearts
[Monday, 04 September 2017 13:50]
Kelty Hearts 1 (Cargill 4) v Forfar Athletic 4 (Cregg 33, Peters 34, McBride 63, Easton 88)
Forfar ran out winners against Kelty Hearts in a competitive open door friendly at New Central Park on Friday 1 September with goals for Forfar from Patrick Cregg, Josh Peters, Scott McBride and Dylan Easton.
The home side took the lead through a Stuart Cargill goal within five minutes when a long range strike through a crowded penalty box took an awkward bounce in front of Marc McCallum. The keeper couldn't hold the ball which was followed up by the Kelty striker to take an early lead. The Loons were almost back on level terms a few minutes later when a good run by Ousman See ended in a penalty for a hand-ball offence. However Scott McBride’s decent strike was well saved by Scott Christie in the Kelty goal.
The Loons stepped up a gear with David Cox and Marc Scott causing problems for Kelty down each wing and shortly after the half-hour mark Forfar were awarded another penalty. A superb over-head kick by See was saved on the line but unfortunately for Kelty not by their goalkeeper but by midfielder Scott-Taylor MacKenzie who was shown a red card by the referee. Cregg stepped up and chipped the ball past Christie from the penalty spot. Within a minute the visitors were ahead thanks to a great work by Cox and a lovely finish by Peters. Cox made a driving run through the midfield brushing aside two defenders before a neat lay-off to Peters who cut inside and curled the ball into the top right corner giving the keeper no chance.
Half time substitutions – Michael Travis on for Simon Mensing and Mark Millar on for Patrick Cregg.
Ten minutes into the second half and it was almost 3-1 to Forfar when a powerful See header came off the cross bar. The visitors did extend their lead after 63 minutes when Scott McBride rose above the Kelty defence to glance a Cox corner into the top corner. Dylan Easton came on for Peters before Jamie Bain picked up Forfar’s only yellow card of the game. McBride was replaced by Murray Mackintosh and Bain by Greg Warwick. The final substitutions saw Jim Lister come on for See and Jason King replaced Marc McCallum in the Forfar goal.
A storming solo run the full length of the pitch by Rodrigue Nanitelamio almost led to a goal of the season contender but he pushed his strike past the post.
The evening was rounded off with a fourth goal for Forfar in the 88th minute when Easton received an excellent diagonal ball from Millar. Easton turned his man inside out before confidently striking the ball past the Kelty keeper to put the result beyond doubt.
It was a solid performance by the lads and a competitive work-out for the whole squad including the four U'20 youngsters who were on the pitch at the end King, Mackintosh, Warwick and Michael Kennedy – the latter having played an excellent 90 minutes.
The home side featured former Loon Stephen Husband.