Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir – match preview
Venue – Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 11th February
cinch league 2 – match no 23
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 turnstile
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture
1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30p.m. to 2.50p.m. and again on the final whistle till approx 8p.m.
The Six Nations clash between Scotland and Wales will be shown on the big screen, the kick-off scheduled for 4.45p.m.
The Refreshment Kiosk will be open as usual at the fixture while the Club Shop situated at the rear of the East Terracing will be open prior to kick-off and at half-time.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors in the ground and within the 1984 Lounge.
PREVIEW
Like all Forfar Athletic supporters manager Ray McKinnon is looking forward to 3p.m. on Saturday when his charges get back into action and at the same time hopefully extend their current winning run to five cinch league2 fixtures.
However Ray knows it will be no easy task.
He has had opponents Stenhousemuir watched in recent weeks and the reports that have come back suggest that the Ochilview outfit are much improved since the last clash between the sides in mid December.
He will therefore be emphasising to his squad prior to kick-off that they should in no way under estimate their opponents and that it will be no easy task to secure what would be a second three point haul of the campaign to date against the ‘Warriors.’
Ray though goes into the game relishing the fact that he can report a near clean bill of health amongst the squad with Craig Thomson a late withdrawal last weekend taking part in a near full training session on Thursday evening.
This situation will make his decision on a final starting eleven a tricky one but that is how most managers would want it to be.
The Athies supporters have certainly been impressed by the efforts of the five new faces recruited in January to date with Seb Ross standing out last Saturday with his spectacular free kick goal, allied to a major contribution in the build up to Stefan McCluskey’s counter.
A few of the older faces have prospered into the bargain in recent weeks, Kyle Hutton’s man of the match performance against Stranraer and Ben Armour’s tenacity up front clear indications if one were needed of that fact.
Stenhousemuir under the guidance since the turn of the year of the experienced Gary Naysmith gave Livingston a fright in the Scottish Cup a couple of weeks back then last Saturday they shared the spoils at Ochilview with league leaders Dumbarton, a 95th minute equaliser from leading marksman Matty Yates leading to wild celebrations.
The manager brought in a trio of new faces in his first month in charge, only goalkeeper Curtis Lyle signed from Kilmarnock featuring in the starting line-up against the ‘Sons.’
The Warriors recorded a 2-1 victory at Station Park back in August, the ‘Loons’ triumphing 2-1 in Stirlingshire in December, courtesy of goals from McCluskey and Armour.
Craig Slater and his colleagues go into the contest with a three point cushion on their opponents, keen without doubt to extend that margin with a trip to Bonnyrigg on the ‘menu’ for Saturday week.
Hopefully the home support will turn out once again to lend their backing in what is becoming week on week a real ‘team’ effort by all connected with the club.
Premiership referee Matthew MacDermid will be in charge of a Forfar fixture for the first time this campaign.
Match Sponsor – Allsports Construction & Maintenance Ltd.
Hospitality Guests – Barry Carnegie & Friends, Grant Farquharson & Friends, Lesley Keillor & Friends, Dave McGregor & his Fellow Golfers
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Sean Baird & Friends
Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures;- Albion Rovers v East Fife, Dumbarton v Annan Athletic, Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose
