MATCH PREVIEW: Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

Forfar Athletic head to Somerset Park on Saturday to tackle the only team in League One with two victories under their belt in the league campaign at this early stage of the season. 

A 1-0 home success over Morton, followed by a 3-1 win at Stirling last Saturday sees Mark Robert’s side setting the pace at the top of the table.

Dick Campbell’s troops though will make the journey to the Ayrshire coast in fine fettle following their impressive performance against the ‘Pars’ and also buoyed by the news that the injury sustained in the latter stages of that game by Dale Hilson was not as bad as first feared.

In fact all 21 players on the staff are fit and raring to go, although Mark Baxter’s comeback could be delayed until he gets 90 minutes under his belt in a closed doors friendly organised for next midweek.

In all probability, Dick is more than likely to go with last weekend’s starting eleven.

Ayr have of course lost the services to Dunfermline of leading marksman Michael Moffat, replacing him with the double act of ex Airdrie and Brechin City striker Ryan Donnelly and John Paul McGovern who had spent the last ten seasons plying his trade in the English Leagues.  Both have netted twice in competitive games this term.

Last season the ‘Loons’ triumphed 3-2 in an entertaining March fixture down in Burns country, having lost 2-0 in late August.  At Station Park, the ‘Honest Men’ won 1-0 just prior to Christams, while Dick Campbell’s men were 4-2 winners on home ‘turf’ in what was the Athies last home game of the 2013/14 campaign.

Saturday’s match will be refereed by Nick Walsh, promoted to the Grade One list at the beginning of the year who will be handling a Forfar fixture for the first time.