MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Linlithgow Rose

The players of Forfar Athletic and Linlithgow Rose will almost deserve a medal each if they can replicate the drama, intensity and excitement, never mind the six goals they shared in the first tie in Tuesday night’s fourth round replay in the William Hill Scottish Cup at Station Park.

That match at Prestonfield a  week past Saturday will live long in the memory of many of the 2,000 plus crowd who witnessed it.

Since then both sides have been inactive, a closed doors friendly for the ‘Loons’ apart.    The Athies scheduled game at Airdrie on Saturday past was a late victim of the wintry weather, while Rose’s Scottish Junior Cup tie at home to Irvine Meadow was called off on the Friday due to the rock hard surface.

Gary Bollan’s side go into the game with midfielder Bryan Hodge who would not have started in Lanarkshire on Saturday an injury doubt.  He will be assessed at a hastily arranged training session tonight.

Apart from long term injury victim Michael Dunlop, the rest of the squad are ready and raring to go, although new signing Andy Ryan is ineligible as he was not registered in advance of the original date of the tie.

The visitors however go into the tie with three players missing through suspension.

Gary Thom sent off on the 9th serves an automatic one match ban, while influential play maker Ruari MacLennan and Chris Gray picked up their third yellow cards of the tournament in the original fixture and also have to sit out the replay.

The West Lothian side however have a squad of some depth and for that matter experience and will without doubt be well organised and no doubt fired up for the task ahead.

One thing is for certain.   Not one person in the Station Park ‘camp’ will be taking their opponents lightly and all know that they will have a hard fought ninety minutes and perhaps even an extra thirty minutes in front of them if they are to get the better of David McGlynn’s side and clinch a fifth round trip to Dingwall.

The match will be refereed by Premiership official Stephen Finnie who was also in command of the game at Linlithgow.

Tuesday night’s game kicks-off at 7.30p.m.

Admission charges on the night are as they were for the first clash between the sides, pegged at £10 for adults, £5 concessions.

The 1984 Lounge a the ground will be open from 6p.m. till kick-off.

Despite the midweek slot, the visitors are hoping to bring a substantial travelling support north for the game and hopefully especially given the almost unique nature of the tie, local footballing followers will also turn out in reasonable numbers.