Ten league games without a win and fast running out of adjectives to describe poor performances. This season is shaping up to be a long struggle unless the team start picking up some wins. Even this early, it is looking as though a play off place may be the best opportunity of staying in the division as, one by one, the teams above us start to draw away.
In an effort to get a settled team, only one change was made from the team which drew with Alloa. Robert Dunn’s injury meant that Chris Hay was promoted from the bench and youngster, Nathan Taggart, made up the substitutes.
The Binos started brightly and a Forsyth cross was headed over the bar by Bell. Forfar had appeals for a penalty turned away although the ball did appear to strike Paul Hay’s arm. Forsyth moved forward but, with no options open to him, decided to have a shot which went inches past Dubourdeau’s left hand post.
Forfar took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, in 16 minutes when Waddell beat Paul hay and cut in from the left. From a tight angle, his shot beat Giacomi at the keeper’s near post. 1-0 to Forfar.
For the next 15 minutes the Binos set up camp in the Forfar half but lacked the guile to conjure up too many chances to trouble Dubourdea. The Binos forced several corners in this period but the final cross left a lot to be desired.
O’Brien was very fortunate not to be booked when he needlessly went down in the penalty box. Referee Duff, however, was content to give the winger just a warning.
After 36 minutes Forfar doubled their lead and, again, Giacomi seemed to be at fault as he allowed a Gribben shot to go through his hands. 2-0 to Forfar.
The Binos had their best effort just before half time when an O’Brien cross was knocked down by McClare into the path of Paul Hay but the full back’s shot was saved by Dubourdeau at the expense of yet another corner.
The Binos did have the ball in the net in the final minute of the half but Nugent was adjudged to have done some pushing as the ball came over. Half time 2-0 to Forfar.
Gribben almost scored in the first minute of the second half as he muscled Nugent off the ball but his shot went inches past. The Binos defence was struggling against the physical presence of Cameron and Gribben.
A quick break by Forfar saw Gribben’s shot palmed away for a corner. From the corner, the ball was palyed back to Lunan who lashed an unstoppable shot past Giacomi to make it 3-0 to Forfar after 51 minutes.
At this point, some Binos fans found it too much to bear and started to head for the exits.
The remainder of the much consisted of a lot of possession by the Binos without causing too much trouble to Dubourdea. Forsyth was booked for a foul on McClune, Gribben was booked for kicking the ball away, Barr was booked for a foul on O’Brien and was very fortunate not to receive a second yellow two minutes later when he clashed with Fraser following a foul on another Forfar player. The referee administered the yellow card to Fraser but did nothing with Barr.
Devine was booked after 74 minutes when he appeared to accidentally strike the referee when appealing for a penalty.
Both teams made substitutions in the half with the Binos bringing on Devine for Paul Hay and Wilson for Chris Hay whilst Forfar used their full quota of substitutes.
The Binos almost got a consolation goal in the first minute of added time but Nugent’s header hit the post.
On today’s performance it is difficult to see where the first win is going to come from if, indeed, there is going to be a first win. The Binos have now lost to the 4 teams immediately above them and the next 2 matches are against teams vying for promotion, if not the title. Next up, in the league, is the visit of Partick Thistle to Forthbank, next Saturday, and a healthy crowd is anticipated thanks to Thistle’s big following. However, before that, the Binos contest the Stirlingshire Cup Final hoping to win the trophy for the third year in succession. The venue is Firs Park, Falkirk and the opposition is East Stirling. Most Binos fans, myself included, will travel optimistic that a victory can be achieved and we must hope that a victory would be the catalyst for better things to come in the league.