Forfar Athletic v Berwick Rangers – Match Preview
Scottish Gas Scottish Cup – Round Two
Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.
Saturday 26th October, 2024
Reduced Admission Charges – Stand & Terracing
Adults £10
Concessions (65 & over, under 17’s) £5
Under 12’s admitted foc if accompanied by paying adult
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_berwick_rangers
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are not valid for this fixture.
1984 Lounge
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 8p.m.
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’ enter the Scottish Gas sponsored Scottish Cup at the second round stage on Saturday when they welcome Lowland League side Berwick Rangers to Station Park.
Last season of course Ray McKinnon’s side reached the fourth round of the competition which brought with it the reward of a visit from Premiership outfit Hibernian, a tie which created great interest and excitement as well as financial reward not only to Forfar Athletic but to many businesses and other organisations in the town.
The manager acknowledges that the Athies go into the tie as favourites, but is under no illusions, accepting the fact that no game against Lowland or Highland League opposition in a cup fixture is an easy prospect as witnessed by our ‘battles’ with Huntly and Tranent last term, albeit on ‘foreign’ soil or for that matter our experience up at Fraserburgh earlier this term.
There will be at least one enforced change to the side that took the field in the hard fought draw against East Fife last time out with Ross MacLean sidelined following the injury received in the second period against the Fifers. Adam Hutchinson is also still ruled out, while Blair Malcolm will require a pre-match check following a wee training ground injury, with Scott Reekie having moved on in midweek on a temporary transfer basis.
Good news however is that the handful of players we currently have on loan have all been been granted permission to play by their parent clubs.
One thing if for certain, the home management team will be keen to keep their starting defensive formation intact after their rock solid performance against the league leaders last weekend, although there may well be a bit of tinkering up front in an attempt to find that goal scoring formula.
Berwick head north under the stewardship of Tam Scobbie, sitting in 13th spot in the 18 team Lowland set-up, having in fact conceded 36 goals in the 13 games played. Badly beset by injury and illness in recent time, the squad a mix of experienced players and youngsters lost 3-0 down at Gretna last weekend, this following on from a surprise 3-0 home reverse in the South Region Challenge Cup at home to Threave Rovers and a 7-1 trouncing from the strong going East Kilbride. They have made a couple of additions to their squad in recent times, the return of former club captain Jamie Pyper from East Stirling and the capture of young Hibernian defender Owen Calder on loan. Goalkeeper Calum Antell is one familiar name in their line up having had a stellar career with Hibs, Queen of the South, East Fife, Edinburgh City and our local rivals Arbroath and Brechin City before arriving at Shielfield.
In the second round of the national tournament some four weeks back, the ‘Wee Rangers’ after going a goal down recovered to defeat Scottish Amateur Cup holders Cupar Hearts 4-2 at Berwick.
Incidentally and rather quirkily the last two fixtures between the ‘Loons’ and the border outfit in 2017 ended 3-2 in favour of the Black and Golds, while as mentioned in a previous article earlier in the week, the Athies won the last Scottish Cup tie between the clubs at Station Park in 1983 by a 2-1 score line.
Saturday’s clash will be refereed by Ryan Lee.
Though Forfar Athletic season tickets are not valid for the game, home officials are hoping that the significant reduction in admission prices allied to the ‘romance’ of the cup will entice a fair smattering of local support along to lend their much appreciated backing to Stuart Morrison and his colleagues.
C’mon the ‘Loons’
Hospitality Guests – Darren Douglas & Friends, Moira Stewart & Party
Footnotes;- There are no replays in the Scottish Cup these days. If the scores on Saturday are level at the end of normal time, thirty minutes extra-time will be played. If still level at the end of extra-time, a penalty shoot- out will determine the winner.
The draw for the third round of the Scottish Cup will take place at 8pm. on Sunday first and will be broadcast live on the Scottish Football Association YouTube channel.
