Arbroath v Forfar Athletic - Match Preview

Arbroath officials remain hopeful that tomorrow’s vital local derby will go ahead at Gayfield with the coastal town not having been so badly hit by snow as others in Angus over the past week.

With both teams vying for the final play-off position as the league table stands at present, the end result could prove significant come May 4th.

While the ‘Loons’ have remained in action over the past couple of weeks with a home win over Ayr and a defeat away to league leaders Queen of the South, the ‘Lichties’ have been inactive with a late postponement of their home game with Alloa two weeks back followed up by their long haul to Stranraer scheduled for last Saturday being called off on the Friday afternoon.

The home side have the upper hand in the three clashes between the sides to date this campaign.

They triumphed 3-2 in the second round of the Ramsdens Cup in early August at Gayfield en route to the semi final of the competition. This has been followed by two 1-1 draws in league encounters.

The first of these at Arbroath in September saw the visitors end the fixture with nine men, while at Station Park last month Paul Sheerin’s men grabbed an injury time leveller.

Forfar go into tomorrow’s fixture bolstered by the singings this week of Darren Hill and Jordon Brown, but will be minus Michael Bolochoweckyj through suspension.

Thankfully they managed to get in a full training session on Thursday evening after great work by Martin and his helpers to clear half the Station Park playing surface of eight inches of snow.

Tomorrow’s game will be refereed by long serving Grade One official David Somers.