Ladbrokes League 1
Venue – Station Park
Date – Saturday, 13th April
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
Current League Positions – Forfar Athletic – 3rd – 53 points from 32 games Dumbarton – 7th – 38 points from 32 games
Previous Results this season
Dumbarton 0 Forfar Athletic 2 at C&G Systems Stadium on 11.8.18
Forfar Athletic 3 Dumbarton 0 at Station Park on 17.11.18
Dumbarton 2 Forfar Athletic 3 at C&G Systems Stadium on 5.1.19
Summary – The ‘Loons’ head into Saturday’s home game with Jim Duffy’s Dumbarton side knowing that a three-point haul will confirm their play-off place with still three further games remaining in the league campaign.
A victory over the ‘Sons’ would if it came about also complete an amazing run of success at Station Park for Michael Travis and his colleagues.
It would be a ninth successive home victory and of course, it would mean that the other nine sides in the Ladbrokes League 1 would have ventured to Station Park in succession and all left pointless, a run that began with the visit of Montrose back on December 15th.
That would be a feat not achieved often for certain, if at all in the short history of the SPFL, but as ever it will be no easy task against a ‘Sons’ side still fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table.
Forfar go into their penultimate home league game of the campaign seemingly injury free again, but manager Jim Weir will no doubt be contemplating a change or two following the disappointing outcome in the Stranraer sunshine last Saturday.
On the day, after an early setback, the Athies created a fistful of goal scoring opportunities, but their shooting boots were not in ‘full gear’, the Gary Irvine first-half strike apart.
Dumbarton come into the contest on the back of a 2-1 home win over Brechin City last week, a Lewis Toshney own goal and a Calum Gallagher strike clinching the three vital points. That result came on the back of a high scoring draw the previous midweek again at home, Airdrie their opponents on this occasion.
On loan Kilmarnock forward Dom Thomas has been their main threat throughout the campaign, but there has undoubtedly been a new found solidity about their performances since the turn of the year and probably another three or four points would confirm survival.
Home fans will also look forward to welcoming back Grant Adam, a popular custodian in his time at Station Park.
Forfar have in fact come out on top in all three contests between the sides this season to date.
Two John Baird goals sealed a 2-0 success away back in early August in the shadow of the rock, while second-half counters from Darren Whyte, Mark Hill and John again clinched a 3-0 win at Station Park in mid-November. By contrast, it was three first-half strikes from Dale Hilson, Dylan Easton and ‘Bairdy’ again which set up a final 3-2 outcome in the ‘Loons’ favour at Dumbarton on the first Saturday of the New Year.
Those results will matter little come 3 p.m. on Saturday, but hopefully, the home support will turn out in numbers to give their backing to the team as they attempt to achieve what has been their realistic ‘goal’ for a large part of the season.
It will also extend their campaign into mid-May at the earliest, at the same time giving those loyal fans the reward of again sampling the excitement that the play-off fixtures love them or hate them bring to all levels of the game.
C’way the ‘Loons.’
Match Officials – Referee – Alan Muir Assistants – Anthony Cooper & Steven Traynor
Match Sponsors – Gordon Dobbie Heating & Plumbing Ltd.
Hospitality Complex Guests – Scott Davidson & Friends, George Henderson & Guests, Barry Smeaton & Friends, Jacqui Williamson, Family & Friends
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Kay Thomson & Friends
Match Ball Sponsor – Simon Harvey
Supporters Information –
Voting will take place at Saturday’s game for the Supporters Player of the Year Award.
The 1984 Lounge at Station Park will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and again on the final whistle until approximately 8p.m.
Club Shop open prior to kick-off and during the half-time interval. Seats can be booked at Club Shop for the Supporters Coach to Stenhousemuir on 20th April.
Match Programme priced at £2 and 50/50 tickets available from vendors inside the ground.
