Elgin City v Forfar Athletic – match preview

Following on their 4-3 defeat at home to Stenhousemuir on Boxing Day, the ‘Loons’ will attempt to get back to winning ways at Boroughbriggs on Sunday when they begin the second half of their league campaign against Gavin Price’s Elgin City.

On Sunday past the Athies, injuries apart were also forced to go into the contest against the ‘Warriors’ minus skipper Ross Meechan, Stefan McCluskey and Calum Moore due to covid related issues.

It was however a fillip to all to see Darren Whyte return to the substitutes bench after a 15-month spell on the sidelines.

Now just 48 hours before this Sunday’s encounter Gary Irvine has been hit by more illness worries within his squad, so much so that the ‘plug was pulled’ on training on Thursday evening.

In fact, it will take a New Years Day headcount of the squad to check availability before their management team can start to put their final plans in regard to selection and formation for the following day’s contest.

Forfar are not alone in this regard but it is a major concern for management teams throughout the leagues that they are currently being denied on a weekly basis any chance of consistency of selection.

Of course, the welfare of all players and staff is the primary concern.

The ‘Loons’ will head to Morayshire to meet a home side currently sitting in the second bottom spot in the table, though well clear of Cowdenbeath.

They did however record an impressive 1-0 win in their last outing at Stirling, former Forfar youth team player Angus Mailer their goal scorer on the night, this result following on from an impressive fightback to earn a point at home to Stenhousemuir.

This will be the third meeting between the sides this season.  

Up at Elgin in August the visitors took a first-half lead through a Stefan McCluskey counter, Conor O’Keefe getting the home side’s equaliser early in the second period.

Then at Station Park in early November in a match played out in gale force overhead conditions, the ‘Loons’ triumphed by a final scoreline of 2-1, their marksmen on the day Andy Munro and Grant Anderson.

Sunday’s man in the middle will be Dan McFarlane who took charge of the Athies visit to Stirling earlier in the campaign.

Admission details to Sunday’s fixture are detailed in full on the Elgin website.

Sunday’s other cinch league 2 fixtures are;-Edinburgh City v Albion Rovers, Kelty Hearts v Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir v Stirling Albion, Stranraer v Annan Athletic