Mission accomplished that was Forfar Athletic manager Dick Campbell’s assessment of his side’s keenly contested William Hill Scottish Cup win over East Fife at Station Park on Saturday.
Goals from Dale Hilson and Chris Templeman saw Forfar through, despite late pressure from East Fife who pulled one back through Craig Johnstone.
“The objective was to get into the next round of the cup, that is what it was all about today,” Campbell said.
“The real winners though were both sets of players for their efforts. Credit should go to East Fife for making a game of it.
“That’s three times we have played East Fife already and won them all. But we knew they would come here and make it difficult for us.”
Fife fans were unhappy that former Raith Rovers star Andrews was still on the pitch to play a pivotal role in Forfar’s opener but Campbell said that there was no intent in the defender to hurt Ross Brown, despite the Fifer having to be stretchered off.
“Marvin Andrews epitomised cup football today. There was no malice in him at all with the incident with their boy he wanted to win the ball,” he said.
“We have one or two knocks after today but players coming back so let’s see who we get in the next round now.
“For clubs like Forfar making it to the fourth round and getting a big draw is so important. We got through and that was the main thing.”
Despite plenty possession early on, East Fife lacked the final cutting edge and it was Forfar who went close in the 15th minute when Gavin Swankie curled a volley just over the crossbar from 16 yards.
Templeman was also just inches wide with a header which really should have found the target. There was a delay after pantomime villian Andrews was booked for ploughing through Brown and after a lengthy delay as Brown was carried off.
But Andrews proved the hero for Forfar three minutes into added time at the end of the first half, when his determination on the edge of the box saw him win the tackle and chase down the rebound, forcing keeper Mike Andrews into a half save.
Dale Hilson was on hand to head home the loose ball to give the Loons the lead. Veteran keeper Rab Douglas kept Forfar ahead with a great save from Stevie Campbell in the 62nd minute.
And that proved vital seven minutes later as Forfar doubled their lead. Templeman saw a header cleared off the line by Craig Johnstone for a corner and from Jamie McCluskey’s inswinger, Templeman pounced on Stuart Malcolm’s blocked header and thumped home an eight-yard volley. East Fife gave themselves some hope in the 74th minute when Craig Johnstone stabbed home Stephen Hughes’ low cross from close range.
But despite the Fifers piling on the pressure, Forfar held on for the win.