Forfar Athletic v The Spartans - Match Preview

Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.

Date - Saturday 9th November 2024

William Hill League 2 – match no 12

The match will have the usual 3pm. kick-off.

Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £16
65 & over £10
Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65& over £10
Under 17’s £5

Payment on the day by cash at turnstile. If anyone would like to purchase a ticket online in advance, they can be purchased at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_the_spartans Please note that anyone purchasing a concession or u17 ticket online may on the day be asked to produce proof of their age and entitlement to a concession ticket, failing which entry to the ground with their online ticket may be refused.

Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm. to 2.50pm. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm.

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.

50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and pre-match in the 1984 Lounge.

PREVIEW

The Loons will welcome The Spartans to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park tomorrow. Douglas Samuel - who is by far the longest serving manager in the SPFL, having been in post since June 2012 - brings his side up to Forfar for the first time since early February. On that occasion the Loons won 1-0 courtesy of an early Tomas Brindley goal. Since that particular fixture, the Loons have travelled three times to Ainslie Park to play Saturdays visitors, on all three occasions falling to 1-0 defeats. The last of those came in League 2 action in September, a match which the Loons largely dominated but ultimately failed to find the net, instead succumbing to a sucker punch in the form of a 93rd minute deflected goal.

Sadly for the healthy, and much appreciated, away support in attendance at Meadowbank last Saturday it was to be a similar frustration, as the Loons were defeated 2-0 by Edinburgh City. Notching up no less than fourteen corners and thirteen attempts at goal, six of which were on target and one of which hit the Citizens’ crossbar, the Loons simply could not find the back of the net.

Rest assured that every individual in the Loons setup felt the bitter disappointment at full time in Edinburgh on Saturday, including captain Stuart Morrison. Speaking to the Courier earlier this week, the skipper commented “We are getting into good areas but not really getting the rub of the green. It has to come at some point – you can’t fault anyone’s attitude or application. I think we dominated the game and were more physical than them and we put them under pressure. Fair play, they stood up well to it but we didn’t have enough quality to break them down.”

“We need to keep going. It has been a frustrating start to the season. It is a big game next week at home against Spartans and we need to get three points. The performance is now maybe second to getting three points and climbing this league.”

On the injury front, Ross MacLean and Adam Hutchinson remain sidelined, whilst Loons’ manager Ray McKinnon will await fitness tests on a couple of other players prior to kick off on Saturday. Rayan Mohammad has this week returned to his parent club Dundee FC, with all parties agreeing to cancel his loan deal early. Rayan returns to Dens Park with the well wishes of all at Forfar Athletic.

The Loons head towards this weekend’s fixtures in 9th position, tied on 9 points with both Stranraer and Clyde, with The Spartans in 7th position on 10 points.

C’mon the Loons

Match Sponsor – Pitairlie Garage

Hospitality Guests – Bob Myles, Andrew Shepherd Construction, Netherton Tractors Ltd

1984 Lounge Hospitality – Martin Hay

Saturday’s other William Hill league2 fixtures;-Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Elgin City, East Fife v Stranraer, Edinburgh City v Clyde, Stirling Albion v Peterhead