Ladbrokes League One

AYR UNITED 2

FORFAR ATHLETIC 3

By Calum Campbell

AS the final whistle blowing at Somerset Park on Saturday we had witnessed what must be the biggest shock in League One this season, with bottom club Forfar turning over leaders Ayr United in the most unbelievable of circumstances.

The Loons came back from two down with goals in the last 11 minutes to grab all three points.

This encounter will long be remembered as ‘McCallum’s Match’ due to the outstanding performance between the sticks by Loons goalie Mark McCallum. His goalkeeping display was exceptional and formed the platform for the growth in confidence throughout the Forfar side in the second half which ultimately resulted in their victory.

The first half had been a pretty dull affair with both sides struggling to get many attempts on target and United pitched against a strong wind.

It looked like both teams would go in even at the break but on 45 mins United took the lead. A fast move from back to front found Shankland on the right who played a delightful ball to Moffat who found himself free in the box and placed the ball past McCallum.

Ayr were one up at the break and looked likely to score a barrowload as they took the game to Forfar straight from the off in the second 45. Ayr pummelled the Forfar back line but time after time Mark McCallum brought off some world class saves to deny Ayr leaving Alan Forrest, Declan McDaid, Jamie Adams and Mark Shankland shaking their heads at how they hadn’t netted.

Ayr did grab a second in 65 mins. After a series of three corners McDaid got to the line and played the ball into the middle for Shankland who blasted into the net. 2 nil to United and the Ayrshire men looked on easy street.

United swarmed forward with wave after wave of attacks but that man McCallum had channelled the goalkeeping gods diving, blocking, and clutching anything that came near. This was a masterclass of keeping. In 71 minutes, after four United corner-kicks, Jamie Adams headed goalwards from six yards and somehow McCallum dived and grasped the ball from behind him and turned it over.

In 73 minutes, Forfar grabbed one back when they were given what seemed a relatively soft free-kick some 20 yards out. With the usually deadly Marc Millar lining up to take dead ball Forfar’s trialist left back, Jordan Hornby, stepped in and sweetly curled the ball into the back of the net. It was 2-1 and everything to play for.

Eight minutes from time, Forfar drew level. A high ball came into the box and striker Matthew Aitken found himself with space and time to turn and slam the ball into the net. It was now 2-2 and United were looking shell shocked.

It took only five minutes more for Forfar to complete the turn around and it was Aitken who again came up with the goods. Ayr just couldn’t get rid of the ball from the edge of the box and Aitken stepped in, composed himself and sent a shot into the bottom left corner.

And that’s the magic and frustration of football all summed up in one game.

STARMAN: Lawrence Shankland 3

David Ferguson 2

Declan McDaid 1

AYR UNITED: Hart; Ferguson, Rose, Higgins, Boyle, Gilmour, Geggan, Forrest, McDaid, Moffat, Shankland. Subs: Avci (GK) Moore, McGuffie, Adams, Faulds, Murphy, Reid.

FORFAR ATHLETIC: McCalluml Duthil, Trialist, McNaughton, Travis, Gregg, Lochhead, Millar, Aitken, Milne, Malone. Subs: Adam (GK), See, Peters, Clark, Allan.

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 1,477.