MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Stranraer
[Friday, 24 October 2014 08:39]
The ‘Loons’ go into Saturday’s home match with Stranraer sitting top of the SPFL League One on the back of a seven game unbeaten run.
Saturday’s visit of Stephen Aitken’s very capable outfit also sees the home side have a chance to equal what has always been considered though probably never totally confirmed a club record six successive home league wins in a season. That feat was achieved in the last six home games of the season by the Championship winning side of 83/4. By coincidence the skipper of that side, club legend Ian McPhee will be in attendance at Saturday’s fixture enjoying the delights of a hospitality package with his golfing buddies from the ‘Fair City.’
Dick Campbell was delighted with the performance at Dunfermline last Saturday, the match perhaps summed up by the Man of the Match presentation to home custodian Ryan Scully who denied the visitors what would have been a deserved and well merited victory. The substantial and highly vocal travelling support on the day, a fact that delighted all connected with the Station Park club also returned from their sojourn to Fife in good heart and looking forward to two home games on the ‘spin.’
The home side are expected to be on similar lines to recent weeks with no new injury concerns. The manager will however have to decide whether to give Andrew Steeves who returned to action in a Development League game in midweek a seat on the bench.
Stranraer will head north looking for a second successive victory in Angus following their 2-1 win at Brechin last week courtesy of goals from Frank McKeown and Sean Winter, this result coming ‘hard on the heels’ of an excellent performance in the Petrofac semi final at Livingston which ended in penalty shoot-out heartache.
On the opening day of the league campaign the sides fought out a 1-1 draw down at Stair Park. Jamie Longworth netted one of his six goals to date to give Stranraer a first half lead, Stuart Malcolm powering a header into the back of David Mitchell’s net in the 63rd minute for the equaliser.
Certainly the home support on Saturday which will hopefully include a few new and extra faces amongst it will be hoping that the visiting keeper who has played in all but one of his side’s competitive games this term will be in for a busy afternoon against the home side’s pacy front men.
The referee for Saturday’s game is Nick Walsh, promoted to the Grade One list at Christmas last year. The Glasgow based whistler who refereed the 2013 Junior Cup Final was in charge of the ‘Loons’ visit to Ayr back in August.
Match sponsor is that great friend of the club Iain Bett.
Ground admission prices are £12 for adults, £6 concessions, while season ticket holders should utilise voucher number eleven.
A reminder that the 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to welcome supporters of both sides from 12.30p.m.till kick off and again on the final whistle until around 7.30p.m.