Forfar Athletic v Ayr United - Match Preview

Thirty five league games have come and gone and thankfully, as we approach the ‘final hurdle’, a home game with Ayr United sees the ‘Loons’, this time round, battling for a place in the play-offs at the right end of the table.

Sadly the final outcome is not totally in their own hands with the various permutations possible mentioned in a previous article. Nevertheless it is likely only a victory over the ‘Honest Men’ will give the home side a realistic chance of extending what has been a more than successful campaign.

The home side, as has been widely reported, will go into the game with five players out injured. Leading scorer Gavin Swankie, who missed last weekend’s win over Stranraer due to work commitments, will again miss out, this time due to a one match suspension, following his sixth yellow card of the season late in the last home game.

Dick Campbell is therefore more than likely to start with a similar eleven to that which began the second period at Stair Park, with Willie Robertson stepping in for Michael Dunlop. One thing which is certain is that whatever team runs down that tunnel at 2.55p.m. on Saturday, it will be ‘with all guns blazing.’

The visitors lost 1-0 to Arbroath at Somerset Park last Saturday with goalkeeper Graeme Smith also saving two spot kicks. They have already lost three games at Station Park this season, league and cup jousts against the hosts as well as a league fixture against our neighbours Brechin City in March when the ‘Loons’ base became City’s temporary ‘home’ for a couple of games.

The match is sponsored, as has been the case at our last home game of the season for nearly thirty years, by our Honorary Patron Lord Lyell of Kinnordy.

Premier League official Craig Charleston will be the man in control of proceedings.

Admission prices have been slashed for the game, to £5 and £3, in the hope of attracting a bigger crowd for what is sure to be a nervy 90 minutes for all with the ‘Loons’ cause at heart.