MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Ayr United

Station Park is certain to house it’s biggest crowd of the season on Saturday as the ‘Loons’ attempt to record their 14th home league win of the campaign against visitors Ayr United.

That victory if it arrives come 4.50p.m. on Saturday afternoon would still give Gavin Swankie and his team mates a chance of lifting the SPFL League One title, though sadly their fate is not in their own hands. Equal on points with top of the table Morton who have also have a goal difference advantage, it has to be said that a win for the Greenock outfit over visitors Peterhead would in all probability see the trophy head down to the ‘tail o’ the bank’ by helicopter.

However there is no doubt that there is still a strong belief in the ‘camp’ and certainly amongst the Forfar fans that the SPFL sponsored ‘chopper’ will be circling the ‘toonie’ come 5.45p.m.

Ian McCall and his Ayr United players will certainly be heading north backed by around a 400 strong travelling army by all accounts intent on spoiling any party.

Two points ahead of Stenhousemuir who travel to Stirling on Saturday, the ‘Honest Men’ still require one point to ensure that they do not have to face a League One Play-Off next week.

They head to Station Park with a full pool of players available to them and following consecutive defeats from Stranraer, Peterhead and Airdrie, they picked up full points with a 4-0 trouncing of Stirling Albion at Somerset Park last weekend.

Their first goal in that game came from on loan ‘Don’ Scott McKenna, Kirriemuir based and educated and the son of former ‘Loon’ Ian McKenna, this counter being followed by an Adam Blakeman brace and a penalty from John Paul McGovern.

The Station Park squad numbers are stretched at the end of a long but nevertheless wonderful season and Dick’s starting line-up on Saturday is unlikely to differ much from East End Park last Saturday where a superb first half display set up the victory over the ‘Pars.’

Again a number of their title winning Development Squad are certain to find a slot on the bench, although James Dale will return. Mark Baxter though remains very doubtful, while Derek Young is ruled out.

The Athies won the first Station Park clash between the sides in November, perhaps more comfortably than the 2-0 score line suggests, but Ayr have come out on top in both tussles between the sides this term down at Somerset.

The match is sponsored by the Club’s Honorary Patron, Lord Lyell of Kinnordy, while the referee is Premier League official Greg Aitken who handled Forfar’s away fixtures at Morton in November and at Airdrie two months back.

A reminder that segregation will be enforced on the terracing at Saturday’s fixture with home fans entering by the main turnstile block.

Home season ticket holders should utilise voucher 23.

There is little doubt that Dick and his players will not be short of support on Saturday. 

In fact the level of backing the players have received in recent weeks both home and at times in sensational fashion on their travels has been staggering, undoubtedly unrivalled in the recent history of the club.

Those supporters no matter what the eventual outcome of the title race come Saturday tea-time should give themselves a large pat on the back. 

They will no matter the end result get the opportunity within minutes of the final whistle to pay tribute to the Management and Players efforts at both First and Development team status throughout a campaign to remember when various pitch side club presentations will take place.