Forfar Athletic v Annan Athletic – match preview
Venue – Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 18th March
cinch league 2 – match no 27
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 FAFC supporters, sponsors and hospitality guests, as well as visiting club officials only from 12.30p.m. to 2.50p.m. and again to all on the final whistle till approx 8p.m.
The Scotland v Italy Six Nations fixture will be shown live on the big screen from 12.30p.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 only on this occasion.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors in the ground and within the 1984 Lounge.
PREVIEW
The ‘Loons’ return home on Saturday after a three week absence when they welcome Annan Athletic, currently sitting third in the cinch league2 table to Station Park.
Ray McKinnon’s side have played two away games since they hard fought draw with Stirling Albion, on both occasions at Bonnyrigg and Methil a late counter from their respective opponents costing them dearly.
Though not seeing it as a specific problem, the manager will certainly have been impressing upon his squad the necessity to ‘see out’ games as we enter the final quarter of the campaign.
The Athies enter that final ‘stretch’ in good heart with the news that the enforced break has seen Roberto Nditi and Craig Thomson return to full fitness and after both took part in Thursday night’s training session with no ill effects, they will be in the match day squad for the visit of Peter Murphy’s outfit.
Youngster Darren Watson though remains sidelined alongside Darren Whyte who is making progress. The Dundee United loanee’s injury has now been diagnosed as a hairline fracture and it will be another three weeks or so before he is fit for ‘active service.’
Ray makes no bones about the fact that he is looking for a positive performance from his players and a return to winning ways prior to a run of three away fixtures over the ensuing eleven days.
Securing the three points against a strong going Annan side will be no easy task however.
The visitors go into the contest on the back of a 4-1 home win over Elgin City last Saturday, leading marksman Tommy Goss netting his 20th and 21st goals of the season into the bargain.
Annan have also been boosted in recent weeks by the impressive performances of veteran Willie Gibson who joined the club in the ‘window’ after his contract as Player-Manager at neighbours Queen of the South was terminated.
Saturday’s visitors won both early season counters with the ‘Loons’ the second of those a 4-1 success at Station Park in early November in which Goss netted twice bringing the ‘curtain down’ on Gary Irvine’s tenure at the ‘Loons’ helm.
Skipper Craig Slater and Mark Docherty however were the marksmen as the visitors sealed a 2-0 success down in Dumfriesshire in early January.
Hopefully the home support will continue the recent trend of turning up in good number for what on paper looks like it could be a cracking ninety minutes.
The man in the middle is Greg Soutar who will be handling a competitive fixture involving the ‘Loons’ for the first time this campaign.
Match Sponsor – Murdeas
Hospitality Guests – Peter M. Drummond Ltd. Bill Pitt Manufacturing Joinery Ltd. Dave Simpson – Slater, Carl Valentine & Friends
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Jacqui Durward & Friends
Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures;- Bonnyrigg Rose v East Fife, Dumbarton v Albion Rovers, Elgin City v Stenhousemuir, Stranraer v Stirling Albion
