MATCH PREVIEW: Stenhousemuir v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head to Ochilview on Saturday to meet a Stenhousemuir side who have now moved three points above them in the Ladbrokes League 1 table following successive victories over Peterhead and Stranraer.

Dick Campbell’s side by contrast have won only once in their last ten league outings, but there was sign of a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ last Saturday with a dogged fight back from what at one point had seemed a fairly hopeless cause against Airdrie.

Forfar fans will certainly be hoping that the players will take heart from that part of their performance against the ‘Diamonds’ and come out with all ‘guns blazing’ this weekend.

Certainly the 4-1 victory recorded over ‘Stenny’ at Station Park in late August courtesy of four first half goals from Kerr Hay, Michael Travis and a brace from Danny Denholm is almost a distant memory!

Dick Campbell will welcome Derek Young and Kerr Hay back to his squad this week following the serving of one match bans in the Airdire fixture, but Thomas O’Brien remains side lined, serving the second game of his two match suspension.

On the injury front, Mark Baxter and Michael Dunlop may be candidates for a seat on the sub’s bench, but Michael Travis is still ruled out.

Scott Martin, the ‘Loons’ man of the match in the last two games plays the final game within his original 28 day temporary transfer, but as has been well documented Dick Campbell hopes to extend that stay during the course of next week.

The ‘Warriors’ as mentioned above will go into the game buoyed by recent results, especially their 4-3 win in their last home game against Peterhead two weeks back. Down 3-0 to a Rory McAllister first half hat-trick, they proceeded to clinch all three points with latest signing Jason Scotland netting twice on his debut.

The Station Park men will of course also come against two old colleagues on Saturday, with Stuart Malcolm and Jim Paterson settled in the Ochilview back four.

Hopefully a reasonable number of Athies ‘die hards’ will make the trek to the central belt for Saturday’s encounter with the home club reducing admission charges on the day to £10 for adults, with under 16’s admitted free if accompanied by an adult.

Referee for the contest is Premiership official Euan Anderson.