MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir

The ‘Warriors’ will travel north on Saturday in high spirits following their midweek 2-0 success over Championship side Raith Rovers, which sealed a quarter final spot in the Petrofac Cup for Brown Ferguson’s side.

The victory was achieved by all accounts courtesy of two spectacular goals from Alan Cook and Stephen Stirling, the win coming on the back of a two game unbeaten league run to date.

The ‘Loons’ though will not enter the fray in a downbeat mood either. Though obviously disappointed to bow out of the Petrofac on Tuesday past, they could still take heart from a particularly gutsy second half performance when down to ten men against what was a very impressive Dunfermline outfit.

The good news for the home side is that Kevin Nicoll will be available for the Stenhousemuir fixture. His first half red card against the ‘Pars’ for denying a goal scoring opportunity merits a one match ban which is only applied to Petrofac/Challenge Cup fixtures.

Manager Dick Campbell may however have to consider freshening up his starting eleven with a handful of the squad set to spend some time on the treatment table in the lead up to Saturday’s match, the third league fixture of the campaign for both sides.

This could mean a first team starting opportunity for experienced defenders Michael Dunlop or Michael Travis or a berth up front for one of the club’s promising young strikers.

The visitors who defeated Airdrieonians 2-1 at home last weekend, this following a 2-2 draw at Peterhead on the opening day made a host of close season captures. One of those was of course Stuart Malcolm who will make a quck return to his old stomping ground. On the ‘other side of the coin,’ home midfielder Bryan Hodge will also be lining up against some old team mates, having moved to Station Park from Ochilview in the close season.

The Athies won all four league fixtures against the Larbert side last season, with a goal aggregate of 9-1 in their favour, but it will without doubt be no easy task to repeat that feat this time round.
Saturday’s match is sponsored by Milnbank Developments Ltd.

The man in the middle is first season Grade One official David Munro.

Admission prices are the normal;- Stand – Adults £13 concessions £7 Ground £12/6

Forfar Athletic season ticket holders should utilise voucher 8.

A reminder that the 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till just before kick-off and again after the final whistle until approximately 7.30p.m.

Supporters of both sides welcome.