MATCH PREVIEW: Berwick Rangers v Forfar Athletic

Forfar Athletic head down the A1 on Saturday for their first competitive fixture at Berwick Ranger’s Shielfield Park since February of 2010.

They will travel in good heart following two league victories and their Irn Bru Cup success up north on Tuesday evening.

They will also welcome back David Cox who has served his two match suspension following his unlucky red card at Meadowbank, but Gary Bollan will have to wait till nearer kick-off to see if he has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from.

Jim Lister did not make the trip to Pitemedden on Tuesday, instead reporting to Station Park for treatment on a back problem, while Andy Munro could be a doubt following the second half knock he took against the young ‘Dons.’

Marc Scott impressive in the midweek cup success will be hoping for a first league start, while Gary’s tenth new ‘kid on the block’ Allan Smith will be eager to grab every opportunity he can to impress the ‘Loons’ management team.

Michael Kennedy is also approaching full fitness and would have benefited from his run in the closing stages of the midweek contest.

Michael’s defensive partner in the Development side last term Murray MacKintosh who has slotted into the first team ranks from the first whistle of pre-season will sign his first professional contract with the club prior to Saturday’s game.

The Manager’s hopes of building an 18/20 man squad all capable of challenging for a first team starting berth Saturday by Saturday are certainly beginning to come to fruition but Gary himself knows that this weekend’s game over the border will be no easy task.

John Coughlin who returned to the helm at Berwick last season is also intent on building a strong squad aiming to challenge for a promotion spot.   He has brought in seven newcomers to date this season including two promising youngsters on loan from Hibernian.   Another recent acquisition Steven Thomson plucked from Musselburgh Athletic has been on the score sheet in both league games to date, a 1-1 draw at Arbroath being followed by an impressive 2-0 home win over Annan Athletic last weekend.

That win was achieved despite the wee Rangers playing with ten men for a large part of the second half after defender Jonny Fairbairn was red carded and subsequently he will sit out Saturday’s contest.

Hopefully an encounter that will showcase Ladbrokes League 2 football is in prospect on what is normally an excellent and expansive playing surface.

The referee is first season Grade One official Steven Reid who did however take charge of a handful of fourth tier games last season as he confirmed his own promotion prospects.