MATCH PREVIEW: Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic

Forfar Athletic and Raith Rovers will meet for the first time since the 2006/7 season on league business at Starks Park on Saturday, although their paths did cross on a couple of occasions in the early part of last season, firstly in a pre-season friendly, then in the Irn Bru Cup.

The ‘Loons’ whose first three league fixtures have by a quirk of the fixture computer been against the three full time teams in the league will head to Fife on the back of their 3-0 defeat at Ayr last weekend, this being followed by the disappointing performance up at Dingwall on Tuesday.

The management and players will no doubt be keen to erase those results from the memory bank, but points collecting in Kirkcaldy this term will be no easy matter for any side.

Gary Bollan will be hoping to have a full squad to choose from, Grant Adam apart.   However Marc Scott picked up a first half injury on Tuesday evening which saw him substituted and he will no doubt be assessed by the club’s medical team.

Thankfully goalkeeper Marc McCallum is available.

The big stopper was red carded after the final whistle on Tuesday following an exchange of words with the match officials but his subsequent one match ban only applies to Challenge Cup matches.

Patrick Cregg signed in midweek is likely to make his league debut for the Athies, while skipper Simon Mensing will return to the fold, having sat out the Dingwall contest.

Raith triumphed 3-0 at home to Stranraer last Saturday, having shared the spoils at Alloa on the opening day.  Lewis Vaughan now back at Starks Park after his controversial loan move to Dumbarton last term netted a brace against the Stair Park outfit, former Alloa striker Greig Spence netting the third.

Barry Smith’s men one of the favourites for promotion this season then returned a similar score line against Brora Rangers in their midweek cup joust.

The match will be refereed by Lanarkshire based Alan Newlands.

Raith officials have advised that Forfar fans are very welcome in the Raith Suite both before and after Saturday’s game.   It is situated in the first floor of the Main Stand and is openfrom 12.30p.m.   To access the bar, fans require to pay their admission fee at the Main Stand turnstile if they are adults, concession tickets being available from the office situated at the rear of the stand.