Match Preview - Arbroath v Forfar Athletic
[Friday, 21 September 2012 10:10]
The ‘Loons’ are back in derby action for the second Saturday running when they make the short trip to the coast to take on Paul Sheerin’s ‘Red Lichties.’
Obviously, first and foremost, Dick Campbell’s troops will be hoping to extend their four game winning sequence, but they will also be all out to gain revenge for their odd goal in five defeat to the Gayfield outfit in the Ramsdens Cup last month at the same venue.
In fact Arbroath have gone on to reach the semi final of the competition and will journey south next month to take on Queen of the South for a place in next April’s final.
The Forfar manager will have the luxury tomorrow of having long term injury victim Jamie Bishop apart, a fully fit squad to select from, with Martyn Fotheringham substituted at half time able to take part in a full training session on Thursday evening. His quandary will be who to leave out from last week’s starting eleven if he is to bring skipper Mark McCulloch unavailable last Saturday due to work commitments back into his defence.
For the home side it will be a third home fixture on the trot, a 1-0 Ramsdens quarter final success over Stenhousemuir being followed by a 2-0 win last week over East fife on league business.
Last season Arbroath had the upper hand in the four league jousts. At Station Park in October, the home side who played 65 minutes with ten men following Michael Bolochoweckyj’s red card issued in fact by Des Roache who will also be in the middle tomorrow fought hard for a 1-1 draw.
This was then followed by two February victories for the ‘Lichties’ to the tune of 4-1 and 4-2. However back at Gayfield in April a Greg Ross strike secured three vital points for the visitors in their fight at the time to pull clear of the relegation spots, at the same time the result put a dent in Arbroath’s title hopes.
Following on the recent successes of both sides, officials of both clubs will be hoping that supporters will turn out in their numbers tomorrow with the weather forecast also on paper in favour.
