Forfar clinched their place in the play-offs with a 1-0 win over Angus neighbours Brechin. The result leaves Brechin clinging on to fourth spot in the league and still with it all to do to clinch their own play-off berth.
The most controversial moment of the match came in 25 minutes when Brechin’s David McKenna was sent off on the advice of a linesman, apparently for an off-the-ball incident.
Forfar took the lead in 57 minutes through Dale Hilson after a mistake by keeper Craig Nelson and, despite never giving up, there was no way back for the 10-man home side.
Jamie Redman headed wide early on for Brechin and, at the other end, Chris Templeman had a shot deflected wide. In 15 minutes, Nelson kicked the ball against Graham Gibson and Hilson couldn’t quite take advantage.
Brechin’s best chance of the first half came in 20 minutes when McKenna got to the byeline and Mitch Megginson shot wide on the near post.
McKenna’s red card followed a lengthy period of confusion during which the referee struggled to understand what his assistant was trying to tell him, but the home side tried to recover from the blow and Neil Janczyk fired a free-kick just wide.
Just on half-time a Ryan Dow chip just cleared the Brechin crossbar, then Michael Bolochoweckyj headed over from a corner.
Two minutes into the second half, a shot on the turn from Daniel McKay was tipped over by Forfar keeper Neil Duffy.
Forfar broke the deadlock when a Ross Campbell cross was fumbled on the near post by Nelson and Hilson bundled the ball into the net.
Referee Matt Northcroft then upset Forfar by booking Hilson for diving in a clash with Nelson.
Forfar boss Dick Campbell said, “It was a typical derby and it is a shame a mistake by Nelly settled it.
“Having said that, no one can deny we were the better team. My keeper didn’t have a save to make and we were well in charge of the game. At this stage of the season it is all about getting three points.
“Brechin is always a difficult place to come. They are having their problems with suspensions, but we are all in the same position and we totally deserved our win.
“We are in the play-offs and we have to remember that we were promoted from division three last year.Level of expectation”The expectation level is high at clubs like Livingston and Ayr United, but there is not the same expectation at Forfar. We have been in the top four all season and we have achieved what we have set out to achieve.”
Brechin boss Jim Weir said, “The sending-off played a big part in the game and I can’t comment until I see the video.
“We have had that referee four times and four of my players have been sent off. The officials spent five minutes trying to make up their minds what the situation was. If McKenna has done something we will hold our hands up.
“A keeper error has cost us the game. There wasn’t much between the teams. We should have scored in the first half when Megginson might have done a bit better.
“We now need to win our last two games. We will have a couple of players back for Stenhousemuir next week, so we must go there and get the three points.
“We are on a terrible run, but we haven’t had our fair share of the decisions. The man would not have been sent off in the Premier League and perhaps it was a case of officials trying to make names for themselves.
“I thought our run of home games would see us into the play-offs, but we have lost our last five at home and only taken two points out of the last 21.”