Forfar Athletic v East Fife - Match Preview

Forfar Athletic go into Saturday’s home game with East Fife now sitting one point off the vital final play-off spot. This situation could still however change on the outcome of the various re-construction votes over the next fortnight.

Manager Dick Campbell rang the changes for Tuesday night’s narrow victory at Coatbridge, five in all from the starting line-up against Arbroath.

With no fresh injury worries he may well tinker once again with his starting line-up as his double substitution half way through the second period at Cliftonhill undoubtedly saw an uplift in the performance level.

East Fife currently sit in second bottom spot in the table, two points adrift of Stranraer who they in fact play next midweek. Since losing 2-1 to the ‘Loons’ in early February at Methil, Billy Brown’s side have only picked up one point from six outings and of course lost heavily at Brechin on Tuesday past.

The homesters will be wary nevertheless as there is no doubting the talent in the Fifers ranks.

Chris Templeman netted a brace for the visitors in that February fixture, East Fife having triumphed on their own patch 3-0 in the first fixture between the sides back in October. This was followed by an enthralling festive period encounter at Station Park where the visitors raced into a two goal lead before having Darren McCormack red carded on the half hour mark. The home side took advantage of their one man superiority to go on to record a 3-2 win, missing a hatful of chance into the bargain.

Hopefully the anticipated rise in temperature forecast will entice a few extra fans to give the Grant National a miss and head to Station Park where entertainment and goals have been the key factors on the new 3G playing surface this season.

Amazingly in 15 league games 65 goals have been scored, an average of 4.33 per match. On top of that 16 goals have been netted in four home cup ties. Dick Campbell and his management team would rightly add that to many have come at wrong end due to sloppy defending.

Only Elgin City fans amongst the 42 senior clubs in Scotland have witnessed more goals in league fixtures with 68 having hit the net at Boroughbriggs from a similar number of fixtures.

Saturday’s match is sponsored by Glamis based architects James F. Stephen and the man in the middle is the experienced Glaswegian Gary Hilland.