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Forfar 4 Stirling Albion 0: Loons send out ‘clear message’

Chris Templeman, centre, and Dale Hilson were on the mark for Forfar.
Chris Templeman, centre, and Dale Hilson were on the mark for Forfar.

There is no room for slip ups at the top of League One as the title race enters its final furlong and Forfar Athletic made sure they played their part with a fine 4-0 thumping of bottom side Stirling Albion.

The Loons remain in joint second spot, just a point behind leaders Stranraer albeit tucked behind Morton on goal difference.

That goals for tally could prove vital in the run in, so the four strikes against Stirling coupled with a clean sheet was all the more important as Morton produced an identical scoreline away to Dunfermline.

The Loons did claw some ground back on Stranraer to leave Forfar on a goal difference of 15, with their rivals on plus 20.

Boss Dick Campbell rightly recognised that, at this sharp end of the season, it is all about points and goals.

“It’s about three points at this stage of the season and the top three all won again today,” he said.

“We have sent a clear message. Four goals for us, no goals against. Remember, we have got three players not playing today and we have had to change things about.

“We have had one or two niggling wee injuries but we will rest up now an focus on Stenhousemuir next week.

“It wasn’t a great day for football. I actually think when the wind is as stupid as that there is a case for the referee not letting the game go ahead. This was a potential banana skin for us.

“When you looked at the papers this morning, we are playing the bottom side, everyone else is away from home playing hard games, it could have been a coupon buster. But we went about our job right.”

With the league title quite possibly going to a final day decider, Campbell insisted he is not thinking that far ahead.

“There is a very determined mood among the players right now. We have big players still to come back.

“I had three young kids on the bench today. And that is fantastic for the club also as we are equally going well in the under 20 league.

“But we will not be taking anything for granted.”

While Forfar cruised to the comfortable win, it was the Binos who enjoyed the early pressure and should have taken a second minute lead when Sandy Cunningham sped through on goal, only for Michael Dunlop tracked back and got in a great last gasp tackle.

Andy Stirling then volleyed over the Forfar bar from six yards out.

The Loons took the lead against the run of play after 19 minute. A lovely pass from Martyn Fotheringham found Dale Hilson and he executed a perfect lob over the stranded Calum Reidford in goal.

Seconds later Reidford pulled off an amazing save to deny Danny Denholm but from Fotheringham’s corner, Dunlop’s powerful header was deflected over the line by Chris Smith.

Stirling continued to press either side of the interval but it was Forfar who stretched their advantage in the 71st minute.

Dale Hilson slid a pass down the wing to Omar Kader and the Forfar sub sped into the box and clipped a neat finish over Albion’s replacement stopper Cameron Binnie.

Dunlop almost added a fourth with a crashing volley that came down off the underside of the bar.

Chris Templeman had the final say when he made it 4-0 with a minute left, heading home a pinpoint Stephen Husband cross.