Leaders Arbroath beaten at home by Forfar

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2019 by PA

Runaway leaders Arbroath suffered just their second Ladbrokes League One defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Forfar.

Connor Coupe’s 14th-minute opener was followed by a Brad Spencer strike with seven minutes left as Forfar recorded a fourth straight league win, despite Spencer seeing red late on in an incident-packed debut.

Forfar remain fourth after third-placed East Fife hit back from 3-1 down to beat Stranraer 4-3.

Kevin Smith pulled a goal back early in the second half after Grant Anderson and Innes Cameron had put the hosts in charge, but Joao Pereira Vitoria restored the two-goal lead in the 62nd minute.

But Craig Watson and Anton Dowds both scored in the space of three minutes to level the game before the latter struck the winner with 10 minutes left.

Arbroath’s lead is still 12 points after second-placed Raith lost 2-1 at Brechin.

Kevin Nesbit scored a minute after coming off the bench in the first half to give Rovers the lead, but Brechin won thanks to second-half goals from Euan Smith and Ross Kavanagh.

Elsewhere, bottom club Stenhousemuir warmed up for Tuesday’s Scottish Cup replay with Aberdeen by beating Airdieonians 1-0 thanks to substitute Thomas Halleran’s 74th-minute winner, while Martin Rennie’s 89th-minute penalty earned Montrose a 1-1 draw at Dumbarton.