⚽️MacLean 41’
⚽️Rennie 66’
⚽️MacLean 70’
⚽️Inglis 75’
Forfar fans travelled (as usual) in good numbers to watch an early pre-season friendly against Luncarty at Brownlands, with 10 days still to go in June. This game also had special significance, being a testimonial for club stalwart, Danny Dobbie; one of Luncarty’s longest serving players. A real holiday atmosphere was in the air on a warm and muggy afternoon, with so many families and younger fans in attendance, spread out across the grass embankment, enjoying the sunshine as well as the match. This match also offered fans a good opportunity to see some of Forfar’s newer players as well as a few trialists against an obdurate Luncarty team, with the away side running out 4-2 winners after a sporting and well-fought encounter.
The game started at a frantic pace, with the ball swinging from one end to the other: the verdant summer grass seeming to hold the ball up and the stiff breeze pulling the ball away at the same time. In 6 minutes, Jamie Richardson, for Forfar, made the first of a series of battling runs down the right-hand side, giving away fans first glimpse of what the ex-Dundee man can do.
The next few minutes were scrappy, with Luncarty receiving a number of free kicks, all of which would come to nothing. In the 18th minute, Forfar’s Trialist, Callum Pitt saw his shot fizz just past Marc Mitchell’s left-hand post. A minute later, Luncarty had their own chance, when Craig Mitchell’s shot was pulled just wide of Zach Paris’s goal.
The next 10 minutes saw dominance from the away team as, firstly Forfar newcomer, Martin Rennie looked spritely at the edge of the box, and then Richardson impressed again: cutting into the box after another strong run down the right-hand side.
What followed was a water break and the start of a series of rolling substitutions to freshen things up. In the 35th minute, slack play by Forfar’s Lewis Martin allowed Luncarty’s promising Ollie Hamiliton in, but his shot was straight into Paris’ hands. The first goal wasn’t far away though.
In the 41st minute, Ross McLean for Forfar, turned at the edge of the box and struck the ball on the half-volley, leaving the Luncarty keeper static, as the ball flew into the net.
Leading up to half time, Luncarty’s Rhys Davis had a glancing header from a corner not far wide and Forfar had a couple of corners that came to nothing.
The second half started brightly for Luncarty, with McLaughlin coming close; his shot just clearing the bar from a free kick. Luncarty continued to press, with the pacy Ben Scarborough having a shot straight at Forfar's keeper, and then a promising run by Steve Moon was smothered by Forfar’s Lewis Martin, one of the Loons’ summer acquisitions (from Brechin City).
However, it was Forfar who would grab the next goal, with Martin Rennie, who’d looked up for the match all afternoon, having a speculative effort which seemed to slip through the unfortunate Mitchell’s fingers to make it 2-0 Forfar.
The rolling subs continued on this warm afternoon and in the 70th minute, Ross McLean grabbed his second goal of the afternoon, as a floated cross found him in acres of space and the Forfar number 7 easily guided the ball into the back of the net.
It became 4-0 to Forfar in the 75th minute, as Kieran Inglis, lurking on the edge of the box, eased a Lorimer pass into the far corner of the goal.
The scoreline now perhaps didn’t reflect Luncarty’s play, or effort, but they were to be rewarded a few minutes later. A bad mistake on the halfway line by Callum Pitt, allowed Fraser Mills to charge through for Luncarty, eventually lobbing the unlucky Forfar replacement keeper, Carlin, to make it 1-4.
In the 87th minute, Luncarty brought on Finlay Ewart for Danny Dobbie. This was a really nice touch by Luncarty, highlighting its community spirit and emphasising its credentials as a truly inclusive, grassroots club. To top off an all-round engaging and well-fought afternoon, Ewart scored Luncarty’s second goal, after picking the ball up at the hallway line and running past several Forfar defenders, before coolly slotting the ball past Carlin to make the final score 4-2 to the visitors.
The exuberance at the end of the match was evident as it was really clear to see what this game meant to Luncarty, whilst, of course, this match gave Forfar fans and management a chance to have a good look at some new players and a number of trialists. Onto Montrose next weekend, as the Loons face a different type of challenge.
Match report by Alex Colquhoun
