Starting XI (Forfar): Douglas, Fusco, Campbell, Faeroe, Dods, Malcolm, Kader, Fotheringham, Templeman, Hilson and Swankie
Subs: Campbell, Andrews, Malin, Baxter, McCabe, Dale and Hill
Booked: Fusco, Baxter, Campbell and Swankie
Subs Used: Baxter, Malin and Campbell
Subs: Little, Cribari, Templeton, Gallacher, Crawford, Murdoch and Telfer
Booked: Faure, Wallace, Mohsni, McCulloch and Law
Subs Used: Templeton
Forfar make no changes to the starting XI that won 3-0 against Stenhousemuir on 11th January. However, Dick Campbell's side do reduce their bench removing McLelland and Hay from it. Rangers make three changes to the team that won 2-0 against East Fife on 11th January. Bell is swapped for Simonsen, due to Bell being allowed to have a night off for the arrival of his first child. Gallacher is brought back to be Simonsen's back-up keeper. Foster is replaced by Little and Black is ruled out of the match due to being booked to many times.
Forfar started off the game pretty poor compared to previous games. With Rangers taking most of the opportunity with the ball. However quickly Forfar managed to get back into the game by putting pressure on the Rangers goal. This came in the form of four corners in a row, these corners never managed to come to anything though.
Forfar run however didn't last very long as Rangers managed to get back into the game. Neither side got chances of scoring. It ended up being a pretty even next fifteen twenty minutes.
The last second of the half involved both teams having possession, with Forfar gaining just that little bit more each time they had a set piece to play from. An outstanding attempt from Swankie nearly put Forfar into the lead as they went into the break however, it was held well by Simonsen.
Half Time Forfar 0 - 0 Rangers
photo;A brilliant save from Simonsen as Forfar try and take the lead
With the first half being full of action, the 2,067 strong crowd had a hopefully view for the second half. It was equal as they went into the break and looked like anyone could break through at any time. In my opinion I would personally see Forfar breaking through more than Rangers as they came into the break.
As soon as the second half kick off it was all Forfar. This didn't last long. Rangers were showing their experience and talent. With Faure, Aird and McCulloch just to name a few that were having attempts on goal. At this point it looked like Forfar were going to be going down heavy by the final whistle.
This was right as Rangers kept pressing Forfar until Mohsni managed to get his head on a fourth Rangers corner.
Goal 1 (Bilel Mohsni, 75th minute): A corner from Aird, was crossed into the box which met Mohsni's head and he managed to blast it passed Douglas. To give Rangers the lead with 25 minutes to go.
After Rangers were a goal up Forfar thought it was time to get back into the game. They still had a chance and wanted to make it count if they could get even a point out of the game.
Forfar began to pull out all stocks to gain a point from the game. Attempts from Templeman and Swankie were both held by Simonsen. Rangers however kept pushing and showed Forfar what the team had.This came in a form of a Templeton goal.
Goal 2 (David Templeton, 90th minute): A right footed effort from the centre of the box. Blasted it past Douglas who wasn't able to do anything about it going in. This meant that Forfar's winning streak had came to a end with a two goal defeat to Rangers.
The game ended with a Rangers win after 4 minutes of extra time.
Full Time Forfar 0 - 2 Rangers
photo; my man of the match in action against Shiels
The game was quite even with Rangers just having that wee bit more possession. For a part-time club to play a full-time club Forfar did really well at holding Rangers back. Both of the Rangers goals were unstoppable but the Forfar side could have done more to stop them further up the park. Overall, it was a fantastic game to watch and would happily say that Forfar are promising to gain a space in the League One Play Offs.
Attendance: 2,067
My man of the match was Gavin Swankie because he really shows week in week out that you don't have to be a full time player to have skill and manage to play against a full-time squad. In this game alone he managed to help Dundee United loanee Dale Hilson to try and have shots at goal and have got link up play with him.
Dean Shiels and Fraser Aird also did brilliantly together. Aird being only 18 and managing to get game time which is allowing him to improve every week. Shiels is also just recently back from injury and is now finally gaining his first team place. They are both showing that they are worthy to be in the starting XI.
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