MATCH PREVIEW: East Fife v Forfar Athletic

For the second season running the Loons begin their competitive campaign with a fixture tomorrow in the Petrofac Training Cup against East Fife.

There are two big differences this season. Firstly the Challenge Cup tournament is under new sponsorship, the second the fact that this season the game is at the New Bayview Stadium, while a year ago, Station Park hosted the fixture.

Dick Campbell and his players would certainly settle for the same outcome this time round, goals last term from Omar Kader and Stuart Malcolm clinching a 2-1 victory, but they go into the game knowing that the home side will be no easy 'nut to crack'.

Amazingly the paths of the two sides crossed on six occasions last season, but that will certainly not be the case this time round after the Fifers lost out in the relegation play-off to Stirling Albion in mid May. Gary Naysmith’s side however will undoubtedly be one of the favourites for the League Two title and have already featured in some fairly high profile friendlies against Fulham, St. Johnstone and Hearts in particular, prior to a 1-0 success over Hamilton Accies last Saturday. Then in midweek they recorded a 3-1 win over a local junior outfit with all three goals coming from Ross Campbell.

Ross who was released by the ‘Loons’ in May after six seasons as a great servant with the club could well feature against them on Saturday. If this is the case, he will surely merit a warm welcome from the visiting support at least prior to kick-off.

Forfar go into the game on the back of an unbeaten pre-season run of matches during which quite a few players have enhanced their opportunity of being in the boss’s starting line-up on Saturday.Derek Young, Stephen Husband and the returning Danny Denholm and Dale Hilson are all certain to be in the first eleven names on Dick’s team sheet, while youngster Andrew Steeves has laid claim to a berth on the left of the back four.

Martyn Fotheringham is a couple of weeks away from a return to action, while Gavin Malin will also miss out following the knock he took early in the Dundee United fixture.

A pleasing aspect for the Station Park faithful to date has been the style of play and the number of goals scored, but friendlies as they say are one thing, the cut and thrust of cup tie football another.

The kick-off is the usual 3p.m. and as previously announced admission charges have been cut with the agreement of both clubs to £10 for adults, £5 concessions.

Referee is Lanarkshire based Alan Newlands, promoted to the full Grade One list during the close season.