Forfar Athletic shocked Dunfermline with a thoroughly deserved win that perhaps surprised not a few national newspaper journalists too.
Loons boss Dick Campbell voiced his incredulity that three tabloid newspaper hacks had marked Forfar as favourites for relegation from League One this season.
Based on their comfortable showing against the Pars, it is hard to argue against the vastly experienced manager “You have to say both teams probably played as well as they can,” Campbell said.
“The difference was the goals. Both teams went about their job right, but having said that I don’t think Dunfermline really had a shot in the first half when they had the wind.
“I told them at half-time: ‘Don’t let that happen to us in the second half’, so it was great that we scored from 30 yards out.”
Second half goals from Dale Hilson and Darren Dods earned the points for Forfar but they will be concerned for star man Hilson who was carried off with a late leg injury.
The first half was an evenly balanced affair, although the visitors enjoyed the best chance and really should have gone ahead through Chigozie Ugwu in the opening quarter.
He sped clear through on goal and only had Rab Douglas to beat but somehow screwed his shot wide as Michael Dunlop tracked back to apply pressure.
Forfar responded and enjoyed plenty of possession and were given space to get in cross after cross. Hilson saw an effort deflected for a corner and Chris Templeman’s shot was blocked by Ryan Scully.
Both sides continued to enjoy chances into the second half and Hilson’s glancing looping header looked to be goal-bound but Scully brilliantly scooped it away in mid-air.
At the other end, Josh Falkingham was twice denied by a brilliant double block by Douglas.
Forfar made the breakthrough in the 57th minute. Hilson picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and thumped a precision shot into the bottom left corner despite Scully’s full length dive.
Forfar doubled their lead in the 72nd minute.
Arron James floated a long free kick into the box and Darren Dods stole in completely unmarked to glance a header down into the right of the goal with Scully rooted to the spot.
Dunfermline sub Faissal El Bakhtaoui went close with a couple of late efforts and James scooped a deflected chance off the line via the post as Forfar held on for the three points.
Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies saw things a little differently from his Forfar counterpart but agreed the goals were the difference between the sides.
“We missed some gilt edged chances and, in my book, if you don’t take these they weren’t even half chances, they were sitters you won’t win,” he said.
“The second goal was just laughable. Nobody had got within yards of him, it was a free header.
“We knew it would be tough. They are an experienced team and were up for it because of the connections. But we are a target for everyone.”