Forfar give Bingham lots of positives

PRESTON ATHLETIC, under the guidance of new manager David Bingham, hosted SFL Second Division club Forfar Athletic in a pre-season friendly and although the East Seniors Central Taxis Premier Division side lost 5-2, there were plenty of positives for Bingham.

“Forfar were well ahead of us fitness-wise and they fielded an experienced team,” said Bingham. “They were better than any team we will play against this season and therefore we learn more from these games than we would from beating an amateur side by a few goals.

“I can guarantee that my players have tired legs but that is why it was a very worthwhile exercise. We gave away a couple of cheap goals early in the second half, but the most positive aspect was the fitness levels.”

Forfar took the lead through a Chris Templeman header before Sean Martin equalised for Preston. Charlie King, who joined Forfar last month after a decade with Brechin City, scored his first goal for the club before half-time and added a second after the interval. Gavin Swankie added a brace before Kevin Carnie notched Preston’s second goal. Forfar had former Spartans player Omar Kader playing as a trialist along with Stirling University graduate Danny Denholm and both had impressive games.

Jamie Bishop, Forfar’s resolute defender, said: “It was a good workout for us and credit to Preston who made us work hard for the entire 90 minutes.”

Elsewhere, Selkirk led First Division Cowdenbeath 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left but a Lewis Coult double and a late amie Stevenson goal saw the Fifers triumph 3-2. Jamie Gibson scored both Selkirk’s goals. Burntisland Shipyard beat Civil Service Strollers 2-1 and 
Edinburgh University were 3-1 victors against Gala Fairydean.