DICK'S BLAST AT AMATEUR ANTICS; THIRD DIVISION.

Byline: TONY BROWN

ANNAN .............1 FORFAR .............0 FORFAR boss Dick Campbell branded his league leaders a bunch of amateurs after they tossed away their unbeaten record.

In a Galabank thriller both sides created enough chances to win several games.

But just as it looked to be heading for a stalemate, Annan wing-back Jack Steele grabbed the only goal with just 17 minutes left after a shocking mix-up between Forfar keeper Ally Brown and his defenders.

The goal earned the home side their first league win of the season and left Campbell raging.

He said: "It's a hard one to take because I just couldn't see them s coring.

"We had all the possession and had about five or six great chances to win the game in the first half but you won't win matches if you defend like that. It was a real bad error between the keeper and the centre-halves.

"I don't think Annan deserved to win but neither did we - we didn't turn up.

"At 0-0 and sitting top of the league, we should have been looking to keep it tight but we lost an amateurish goal.

"I'm not at the stage where I'm talking about winning leagues yet, but you certainly won't win a league defending like that."

Blazed Forfar striker Kevin Gordon wasted the first of several glaring chances when he fired over from 12 yards soon after the kick-off.

At the other end Annan's Phil Storey surged towards the Forfar goal but shot straight at Brown.

Forfar midfielder Martyn Fotheringham then tried his luck with an audacious attempt from just inside the Annan half but was denied by keeper Greg Kelly.

Chris Templeman was next to have a go with the striker's powerful shot deflecting inches past Kelly's post as the league leaders began to turn the screw.

The Loons went close again when Ross Campbell saw his header from close range blocked by Kelly.

Annan then enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure.

Storey saw a shot from the edge of the box crack off the post in 26 minutes.

Then David Cox ran clear and rounded Brown only for Stuart Malcolm to get back and knock the ball behind for a corner.

From the flag-kick Annan striker Storey powered a header just over.

The game was overflowing with chances and Campbell missed an absolute sitter after half-an-hour when he blazed over from six yards.

It was end-to-end stuff and Annan's Graeme Bell saw his shot beaten away by Brown before the Forfar keeper had to tip behind a Kevin Neilson corner.

The second half started in similar fashion with Bell lashing a superb 25-yard strike inches over.

Forfar left-back Iain Campbell thumped a low free-kick just past and Templeman looked on in agony as his goal-bound header looped over.

Thrilled But the deadlock was finally broken in 73 minutes when Annan wing-back Steele capitalised on the Forfar mix-up to knock the ball into an empty net.

Annan chief Harry Cairney was thrilled to see his men notch their first win.

He said: "It was some game. I couldn't believe it was 0-0 at half-time because both keepers had to make about four great saves before the break.

"It was looking like a bit of a stalemate in the second half until Jack took advantage of a mix-up in their defence.

"It's a monkey off our back to get the first league win because we've got a young team here and the pressure was getting to them a bit."

CAPTION(S):

Steele a winner: Jack Steele runs away after his goal before being caught by his team (top)