Match Preview – Forfar Athletic v Arbroath

Ladbrokes League 1

Venue – Station Park

Date – Saturday 30th March

Admission Prices – Stand – Adults £15   Concessions (65& over) £9    Under 17’s £5   

                                       Terracing – Adults £14   Concessions £8   Under 17’s £5   

                                       Forfar Athletic season tickets valid for this fixture

Turnstiles will be open at 2.15p.m. prompt.    At the main turnstile block for terracing bound supporters in Carseview Road, two adult and two concession turnstiles will be in operation.    FAFC terracing season ticket holders should enter through the gate at the mart end of the turnstile block.   FAFC Officials ask all supporters to arrive as early as possible and co-operate with the stewards at all times.

Current League Positions – Forfar Athletic – 3rd  – 50  points from 30 games   Arbroath – 1^st  – 64  points from 30  games

Previous Results this season

Arbroath 3 Forfar Athletic 1 at Gayfield on 15.9.18

Forfar Athletic 2 Arbroath 3 at Station Park on 8.12.18

Arbroath 0 Forfar Athletic 2 at Gayfield on 26.1.19

Summary – The ‘Loons’ eleventh league derby match of the season it would be fair to say carries a bit more importance than the previous ten hotly contested fixture with our near neighbours.

Jim Weir’s outfit will be keen to eradicate from the memory bank, a disappointing display at Airdrie last time out and get back to winning ways in the fight for the runner up spot in the Ladbrokes League 1 table.

On the flip side of the coin, Dick Campbell’s troops, champions elect it has to be admitted, head to Station Park knowing that if results go their way on Saturday, they could, in fact, clinch a place in the Championship next term this very weekend.

The equation is a simple one.    The ‘Lichties’ have to win on Saturday, a feat the home players will giving their utmost to make sure does not happen of course, while Raith Rovers would also have to lose in their Fife derby at Methil.

The Athies also go into the game hoping to extend their winning run in home league fixtures to eight, having set a club record by all accounts with their seventh consecutive three-point haul against Raith two weeks back.

Skipper Michael Travis is the only slight doubt for the home side, having taken a hefty shoulder knock at the Penny Cars Stadium last Saturday, but according to reports he is expected to be fit for action come 3p.m. on Saturday for the fixture against his former club.

Jim Weir may, however, be tempted to make a change or two following last weekend’s reverse at Airdrie, with a handful of experienced players awaiting their opportunity in a starting line-up from last Saturday’s list of subs.

Following a 2-1 home win over East Fife, two weeks back, Arbroath were involved in a goalless draw down at Stranraer on Saturday past, this despite the Stair Park side playing throughout the second period with ten men.

Dick would, like his Station Park counterpart, appear to have few injury worries to deal with; although former Station Park favourite Danny Denholm missed out on the trip to Wigtownshire, instead being sent on a scouting mission to North Lanarkshire.

Two Bobby Linn hat-tricks sealed the three points for Arbroath in the September and December clashes, although home players and fans are still irked by the fact that FAFC TV pictures proved conclusively that an offside flag should have been raised in the lead up to the winning effort in the second encounter.

Then in January at Gayfield, goals from Connor Coupe and Brad Spencer on debut clinched what was on the day a merited three-point haul for the ‘Loons.’

There is no doubt that this Saturday’s encounter will be hard fought ninety minutes between two sides who have certainly ‘exploded’ the pre-season predictions of just about every pundit that the league this season would be a one-horse race with Raith in their opinion ‘past the winning post’ before a ball was kicked!

Station Park is certain to house its biggest crowd of the season to date with thankfully the weather forecast, fingers crossed, as was not the case two weeks back in our favour for once.

Hopefully, supporters of both sides will arrive determined to enjoy the occasion but nevertheless give their favourites backing in the appropriate manner as has it seems always been the case in matches between the two sides for many a day.

Match Officials – Referee –  Alan Newlands   Assistants – Graham McNeillie & Billy Baxter

Match Sponsors – Graham & Sibbald Ltd.

Hospitality Complex Guests –  Steve Brown & Friends, George Patullo & Friends, Jane Rae & Friends, David Robertson & Guests

1984 Lounge Hospitality – Karen Scallan & Friends

Match Ball Sponsor – John Craik

Supporters Information –

The 1984 Lounge at Station Park will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off.    As previously intimated, entry to the lounge pre-match will be restricted to sponsors, hospitality guests and Forfar Athletic supporters in possession of the appropriate voucher.    These restrictions only apply pre-match.  Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

The lounge will re-open on the final whistle until approximately 8p.m.

Club Shop open prior to kick-off and during the half-time interval.     

Match Programme priced at £2 and 50/50 tickets available from vendors inside the ground.