Venue – Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 22nd April
cinch league 2 – match no 34
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 Manchester City v Sheffield United FA Cup Semi Final tie will be shown live on the big screen from 5p.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’ will go into the cinch league2 clash with Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday with one simple message ringing in their ears from manager Ray McKinnon. Win the game and secure the three points.
The Athies management team and players will firstly want to put the disappointing performance last time out at Elgin behind them.
They also know that victory in their last three games will secure a top four spot. To be fair a couple of wins could be enough depending on results elsewhere over the ensuing weeks, but there is no intention at present on relying on the help of others.
The manager would have loved to have been going into the game with a full squad to choose from but as ever that is not the case.
Darren Whyte is of course out for the remainder of the season, while Roberto Nditi serves the second game of his two match ban.
Sadly skipper Craig Slater is also ruled out having survived only thirty minutes of the first half action at Boroughbriggs.
Good news however. Callum Moore has fully recovered from his sickness bug, while Adam Hutchinson and Darren Watson both took full part in Thursday night’s training session.
Bonnyrigg managed by former ‘Loons’ central defender Robbie Horn arrive at Station Park sitting in ninth position in the league table, their 35 points secured from their 33 outings, a tally that would have already guaranteed safety on many an occasion in the past. Not to be this time round it would appear?
Like the Athies, Rose will be desperate for the points and to be fair Forfar have so far in the campaign failed to pick up a three point haul against the SPFL debutants.
Bonnyrigg won 2-0 on their own patch back on the season’s opening day, before securing a 1-1 draw courtesy of goal from George Hunter three minutes into second half stoppage time at Station Park in what was Ray McKinnon’s managerial debut back in November. Jaden Ferguson had give the home side the lead a quarter of an hour earlier.
Then on a Tuesday evening in February at New Dundas Park, the score line was again 1-1, Rose’s equaliser this time round coming courtesy of Kevin McGachie in the 87thminute, Ben Armour having given the ‘Loons’ the lead with a 68th penalty strike.
Saturday’s encounter is therefore a case of all to play for and no doubt another tense 90 minutes is in store for supporters of both sides.
Forfar Athletic officials have already made a plea earlier through these columns for increased home support, a request we can only repeat.
There is no doubt that fans do have their part to play, especially at this late stage of a campaign which has in some ways ‘risen from the ashes’ for all connected with the Station Park club.
Alex Shepherd the man in the middle, will take charge of a ‘Loons’ fixture for the second time this season.
C’mon the ‘Loons’
Match Sponsor – Iain Bett
Hospitality Guests – Scott Davidson & Friends, George Henderson Electrical Ltd, David Shepherd & Friends, Michael Watt Construction Ltd.
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Alison Neave & Friends
Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures;- Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir, Dumbarton v East Fife, Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic, Stranraer v Elgin City
