Grinding out results and the ability to turn things around when they clearly aren’t going your way are hallmarks of a title-chasing side.
Forfar showed they have that grit in spades, coming back from a goal down at the interval to record a 3-1 win over Cowdenbeath at Station Park.
And that sets up a huge game against Angus rivals Arbroath this Saturday, as the Loons maintained their eight-point lead at the top of League Two.
Manager Gary Bollan revealed that he and his backroom staff recognised their tinkering with personnel and shape hadn’t worked and the changes they made at half-time saw Forfar return to the form that had taken them to the head of the table.
“The first half wasn’t satisfactory,” said Bollan.
“We aren’t giving them any credit for that first half but I think we were different class in the second.
“We kept the ball as well as we could and pressed them all over the park, which we didn’t do in the first half, and that’s the reason we got the result.
“First half, not impressed; second half, really impressed.
“We, the staff, had a discussion at half-time. We had to change something to get something out of the game.
“We decided we would give Lewis Milne more of a free role in the second half and he proved again what a good player he is – he scored some goal. Josh Peters also got on the scoresheet, which is also pleasing.
“Overall I am really pleased. The lads showed they are up for a battle at this stage of the season.”
The second half was delayed for a good 15 minutes while a replacement official was found after referee Colin Steven picked up a calf strain but Bollan said that didn’t impact on his players.
“We were going to tinker at half time anyway so the delay didn’t hinder or help us,” he said.
“It was the same for both teams. Both have to do another warm-up, which isn’t natural, but they coped with it well and deserve a huge amount of credit.”
Cowden were well on top of the first half, although Forfar’s David Cox had a chance to put the home side ahead in the 11th minute when he outmuscled Jamie Pyper and bore down on goal. However, he dragged his shot wide of the far post with just the keeper to beat.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 16th minute when Lewis Moore knocked back a deep cross for Dale Carrick to power a close-range header into the Forfar net.
The game turned on its head around the 53rd-minute mark as Forfar keeper Grant Adam made a point-blank stop to deny Carrick a certain second goal. Forfar then broke immediately upfield and Peters hit a cross into the box from the right that deceived everyone and soared over the head of keeper David McGurn for the equaliser.
As conditions worsened in the snow, Forfar took the lead in the 69th minute. A Milne corner was met at the far post by Tam O’Brien and his header arched into the opposite corner.
Milne himself then put some distance between the sides in the 77th minute with a scorching drive from 25 yards that seemed to fly through the hands of the keeper.
The win maintained Forfar’s lead over Arbroath ahead of yet another Angus derby, with Bollan adding|:Â “If it is a huge game for us then it is even bigger for Arbroath.
“We go down there eight points in front and although they have turned us over twice it is up to us to try and get one over on them.”
Cowden boss Liam Fox’s assessment was understandably the polar opposite of Bollan’s – pleased with the first half but furious with the second.
“I thought we were excellent in the first half, scored a really good goal,” said Fox.
“We were on top in the first half but it is small margins that make the difference.
“It turned on a really good save from them and they went straight up the park and scored.
“It looked like the cross caught him (McGurn) out and the second one may have had a slight deflection but he knows he should have done better, he knows that himself.”
“We know we have some massive games coming up before the end of the season but we have got to keep the belief and keep sticking together.”
