Forfar Athletic v Stranraer – Match Details/Preview
Venue – Station Park
Date – Saturday 8th January
Kick-Off – 3 p.m.
cinch league 2 – match no 20
Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65 & over £9
Under 17’s £5
Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £14
65& over £8
Under 17’s £5
Payment by cash at the turnstiles
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture
Physical Distancing Requirements
Unless from the same household, one metre physical distancing should be in place when entering and exiting the stadium, while queuing at the refreshment kiosk or at toilet entrances as well as on the terracing for the duration of the match.
Patrons/groups from up to three households are however permitted to sit together in the stand with no maximum number of individuals. A one-metre physical distance should be observed between any such groups within the seated area.
1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and again on the final whistle until approximately 8 p.m.
Please note that seating arrangements within the lounge will be in accordance with current government legislation. Customers will be restricted to patrons from a maximum of three households at any one table. The tables will also be spaced out one metre apart.
This will see the possibility of a slight restriction on numbers and we trust supporters will appreciate that club officials have no alternative in the current circumstances.
Table service is also mandatory as is registration for track and trace on entry.
The Refreshment Kiosk will be open as usual at Saturday’s fixture as will the Club Shop situated at the rear of the East Terracing.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and within the 1984 Lounge
Although it is not mandatory Forfar Athletic officials would recommend that supporters attending this fixture take a Lateral Flow Test earlier in the day.
PREVIEW
Forfar Athletic will be returned to Saturday afternoon action for the first time since December 11th when Jamie Hamill’s Stranraer visit Station Park tomorrow.
Over the past three weekends, they have had a successful Friday night excursion to the Capital City, followed by Sunday afternoon defeats from Stenhousemuir and Elgin City.
Gary Irvine was minus five first-team squad members at Elgin last weekend, namely Matty Aitken, Yusuf Hussain, Jamie Ness, Archie Thomas and Craig Thomson due to injury and covid related matters and he is certainly hopeful that at the very least two of them will return to his matchday pool for Saturday’s game.
Also available is Michael Travis whose loan spell at Berwick has come to an end.
The ‘Loons’ still occupy the second spot in the league table two points ahead of third-placed Annan Athletic and they will certainly be looking to consolidate that position on Saturday, at the same time returning to winning ways.
Stranraer currently sit in the seventh spot in the table on the 23 point mark but are still eyeing the last play-off spot as we move into the third quarter of the campaign.
At home to Annan on Sunday past, they took a 17th-minute lead through Broque Watson only for the visitors to equalise in the dying embers, this after they had seen a point disappear with a similarly late counter at Albion Rovers seven days before.
The Wigtownshire outfit returned to the southwest with a point on their previous visit to Station Park this season back in late August.
Craig Slater on the day had given the home side a 54thminute lead, Darryl Duffy netting the visitors' equaliser fifteen minutes later.
Down at Stair Park two months later, the Athies headed home on the 180 mile trip with all three points in the ‘locker.’
Matty Aitken netted a 44th-minute penalty on the day to cancel an opener for the home side by Tommy Muir. Craig Thomson then gave the visitors the lead before Josh Walker again squared up the scoreline, only for Jamie Ness to bundle home the winner for the ‘Loons’ with two minutes remaining on the clock.
Another close encounter will no doubt be on the cards on Saturday and hopefully despite the current situation all find themselves in, a reasonable home support will turn out to give Ross and his colleagues their full backing.
In control of the action will be Lorraine Watson who will be refereeing a Forfar Athletic competitive fixture for the first time.
Match Sponsor – Lee Hutcheon Painter & Decorator
This weekend’s other cinch league 2 fixtures;-
Friday – Edinburgh City v Elgin City
Saturday – Stirling Albion v Kelty Hearts (1 p.m. ko) Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir, Cowdenbeath v Annan Athletic
