Forfar Athletic’s free-falling season continued with another home defeat but could a glimmer of hope be starting to shine through at Station Park?
The Loons lost again on Saturday, going down narrowly 1-0 to Stenhousemuir. But the performance, effort and work-rate put in by Gary Bollan’s side was enough to instil some confidence among Forfar fans that they can turn the corner and haul themselves out of the relegation zone.
However, the Forfar manager admitted that all that counts is getting a win under his belt .
“You have to create your own luck at times. At the minute, we are not getting any luck and we are not creating any of our own.
“I feel it is that lack of confidence at the minute that is stopping us from winning games.
“I have just said in the dressing room that whether you win pretty or win ugly, it doesn’t matter. It is three points that we need. And we need them very, very soon.”
He continued: “I think over the piece we had enough possession to go on and win the game. But at times in the final third, I felt we lacked a bit of creativity.”
There was an impressive debut for Andy Ryan and Bollan wants still more to come from the former Hamilton Accies frontman.
“Andy has a bit of pace and he has an eye for goal. He will put himself about and cause defences problems. But we need more than just that. We need a bit of quality,” he said.
“We have been four weeks here now so I think we are getting a fair idea of the players in there. But if we can perhaps add to the squad and add a bit of quality to the squad in the next week we may well do that.”
The home side started in positive fashion and an early chance saw Michael Travis denied by a fine reflex save from new Stenny keeper Graham Bowman.
In reply, Mark Gilhaney went close with a low drive from the edge of the box just past the foot of the Forfar post.
Despite having most of the possession and pressure, Forfar could not take advantage and a minute into stoppage-time at the end of the first half, Stenny punished them.
Stephen Stirling collected a short free kick and curled in a lovely shot from 20 yards.
Craig Smith twice fired in second half shots for Forfar that went close courtesy of a couple of wild ricochets.
But a lack of a killer final ball from the Loons, coupled with some solid defending from the Warriors, meant the visitors held on for all three points.
Forfar were dealt an injury blow when Travis went down heavily and limped off with a knee injury, with Bollan revealing he could now be out for several weeks.