We travelled to Forfar knowing we had a good opportunity to progress into the Qtr Finals of the North of Tay, but we also knew we had to play much better than last week to get the result needed.

Ritchie came back into the starting 11, filling the space due to Lloyd working. Jonny took a strip and joined Billy and Gregor on the bench.

Sean H started his 100th game for me at the Firies and he was looking to add to his 90 goals scored in my time as Manager.

We started brightly and dominated play in the early stages of the game. Our passing was sharp and when possession was lost, we were quick to press and recover the ball. Everyone was keen to get on the ball and everyone was working hard to create options for the player in possession.

Although the deadlock couldn't be broken in the first half hour or so, it was not for the want of trying on our part. We had made several good chances to open the scoring, but a mixture of poor finishing and some good goalkeeping kept the scoreline at 0-0. Sean, Stevie, Ritchie, Paton and Thommo all had opportunities to put us ahead. Some had more than 1 chance.

Finally after 37 minutes, we took the lead. After some good play down our right, Stevie moved into space on the edge of the box and then played a good through ball to Sean, who had made a good run left to right, before latching onto Stevie's pass and driving the ball back across the goal, past the diving keeper and into the waiting net. 0-1 to the Firies.

Within a few minutes, Forfar almost equalised. One of the Forfar team fired a good diagonal ball, left to right, finding their forward just inside our box. He took a good touch, before clipping the ball over the advancing keeper, only to see the ball come back off Millar's left hand post, before the ball was cleared. This was to be one of only 2 real attempts at our goal in the 90 minutes.

We continued to go forward again and again, but the lead stayed the same until the 44th minute, when another Firies attack saw a good ball fired right across the goal from the left to right. No one connected, but Sean H managed to get to the ball first and his quick reverse pass was smashed home by Paton from about 8 or 9 yards. Another good finish by the men in red. 0-2 and we were well on our way into the next round.

HT 0-2. We started really well and had controlled the game from the 1st to the 45th minute. Only disappointment was that we were not out of sight, having created so many good openings. No changes at halftime.

We didn't start the 2nd half as well as the 1st and Forfar had more of the ball in the opening minutes, but luckily for us, their final ball wasn't great and they didn't trouble our goal. It wasn't long after this, that we extended our lead.

A good ball into space down our left, found Ritchie 1 on 1 with a Forfar defender. The Firies forward raced past his opponent, before firing a good low ball across the goal, finding Sean H in enough space, to control the pass, before firing home from about 6 or 7 yards. Another good finish and 0-3 to the Firies. 52 minutes played.

3 minutes later and it was all over. Sean F picked up a loose ball inside our half and went forward, beating 2 or 3 Forfar players, as he made his way into their box on the left. His final ball found Ritchie ready and waiting, yards from the goal. His touch was good and he fired the ball past the diving keeper into the net, to make it 0-4. Great run from Sean F and another confident finish from the Firies forward.

Our 5th was similar to our 3rd. Another good piece of play down our left, found Ritchie tearing past the Forfar defender towards the goal. The Firies forward, getting his head up, fired another good low ball across the goal, finding Thommo coming in at the back post area. Thommo controlled the pass, before firing home from about 6 or 7 yards. Another good finish and 0-5 to the Firies. 63 minutes played.

Over the next 5 minutes, we made a couple of substitutions. On 65 minutes Gregor replaced Stevie. Ritchie went up front, while Gregor went wide left. On 70 minutes Jonny replaced Sean F at left back.

We continued to open up the Forfar defense time and again, only to be thwarted by the Forfar keeper or by our own poor finishing. The closest Forfar came to getting on the scoresheet, was an overhit pass back by Jonny, which had Millar scampering back to his goal, thankfully clearing the danger. Anyway with 13 to go, Billy replaced Ritchie up front. It would be a good 13 minutes for the Firies Legend.

With 8 minutes to go, Billy got on the end of a good through ball, in the middle of the park. A good touch, good awareness and a good pass into Sean's forward run, left the defense stranded and the Firies forward racing in on goal, 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper. Sean showed good composure and fired home for another hat-trick for the Firies. 0-6 to the Firies.

With time running out, there was no let up, as we pushed for another goal. As the ball broke in the middle of the park, Billy was first to reach it, knocking it wide to Gregor, whose touch took the ball inside his marker, allowing him time to smash the ball high into the net for the 7th of the day. 0-7 to the Firies. 86 minutes played.

FT 0-7.

Verdict - A very good footballing performance today. We set out to control the game by dominating the ball and that's exactly what we did. Everyone was eager to get on the ball. We moved the ball quickly and everyone was keen to make supporting runs, creating angles for the player in possession. We defended as a team from front to back and when we lost the ball, we pressed in numbers, quickly recovering the ball, time and again. Deserved the win today.

Clean Sheet - For only the 3rd time this season we kept a clean sheet, although Millar would agree he didn't have too much to do in this game. 3 more to equal our best season.

Man of the Match - There were several good performances across the team, but Sean Hearn got the votes today, nudging out wee Frenchie and Cairdy. The Firies forward grabbed another hat-trick, although he'll probably feel he should've had more, as he had other opportunities in both halves to increase his tally. However, hitting your 93rd goal in 100 games, isn't too shabby in my books. Well done and well deserved Sean.