MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers will pay their first competitive visit to Station Park since the spring of 2010 on Saturday to meet a home side who thankfully returned to form with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Stirling Albion at Forthbank last Saturday.

Manager Gary Bollan ‘shuffled his pack’ to great effect last Saturday, but he will be forced into at least one change to the starting line up for this weekend’s contest.

Andy Munro scorer of the first goal against the ‘Binos’ with a powerful  header had to be assisted from the park twenty minutes later with ligament damage and a minimum four weeks on the sidelines is the likely outcome for the popular defender.

Andy apart, the manager will have the same pool of players available for the visit of the Shielfield Park outfit and it is likely that Marc Scott to name but one will retain his starting berth after last week’s promising showing.

The ‘Loons’ and the ‘Wee’ Rangers have already crossed swords at Berwick this term back in August, the visitors recording a 2-1 win.    Lewis Milne and Josh Peters were the Athies marksmen that rainy afternoon, Jordyn Sheerin the scorer of Berwick’s counter.

The visiting manager John Coughlin will certainly have a selection headache for the trip north with Steven Thomson and Stevie Notman suspended following their red cards in the 1-1 home draw with Cowdenbeath last time out.   Latest signing Greg Rutherford was the scorer of Berwick’s goal in that game which saw their points tally reach fifteen from eleven games, ten adrift of their Saturday opponents.

The Station Park clash will be the second Scotland v England confrontation of the weekend, with the Borderers home ground situated in Northumberland, so let’s hope that Forfar go into the game with the prospect of making it a double success over the ‘Auld Enemy.’    More importantly no matter the outcome at Wembley, three points and a first home victory since mid September will be the goal for all concerned with the Station Park club to maintain at the very least their four point lead at the top of the Ladbrokes League 2 table.

Premiership official Barry Cook will be in charge of proceedings.

The match is sponsored by W.F. Barker Ltd, great supporters of the ‘Loons’ cause for many a year.

The kick-off is at 3p.m. and admission charges are the normal £13/7 for the stand, £12/6 for the terracing.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and on the final whistle till approximately 7.30p.m.    All supporters welcome.