MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Dunfermline Athletic

The ‘Loons’ will go into Saturday first home competitive game of the season against Dunfermline Athletic in good heart following an encouraging second half performance against Stranraer down at Stair Park last weekend.

Manager Dick Campbell will also have a stronger pool of players to select from with only Mark Baxter still ruled out by injury. Skipper Gavin Swankie who took ill on the trip south last Saturday has fully recovered while Martyn Fotheringham came through a bounce game with a Montrose on Tuesday night.

Darren Dods and Stephen Husband are also available after serving one match suspensions, the latter no doubt especially looking forward to playing against the ‘Pars’, having spent the last two seasons at East End Park making sixty first team appearances in the process.

All this will undoubtedly leave Dick with a few selection headaches for the ninety minutes ahead against a side with which he has had major connections in the past.

Jim Jeffries side recorded cup tie success against Annan Athletic and Raith Rovers, prior to their 0-0 draw at home to Brechin City in their league opener at East End Park last Saturday.

They have brought in a few new faces in the close season, the most notable, the free scoring Michael Moffat from Ayr United, central defender Gregor Buchanan from Airdrie and forward Chigozie Ugwu from south of the border.

Last season the spoils were shared in both encounters between the sides over in Fife, while at Station Park the home side triumphed 4-0 in October, the visitors recording a 4-2 success in February.

Saturday’s man in the middle is Ayrshire based official Des Roache.

It will be a memorable day off the park for the host club with their new hospitality complex opening for business for the first time, but more importantly all connected with the club will be hoping for a big performance on the park against the bookie’s favourites for the title to set the tone for the exacting league campaign ahead.

As ever the ‘Pars’ supporters will no doubt have an excellent travelling ‘army’ of fans and an early arrival at the turnstiles will as ever be appreciated.

Home season ticket holders should utilise voucher number 5.

The match is sponsored by Scottish AGRItrader, part of the locally based Astute Group.