MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Arbroath

This Saturday sees Arbroath make their first competitive visit to Station Park since April of 2014 for what is a much anticipated local derby.

The match will also see Dick Campbell make his return to the ground where he occupied the Manager’s office for over seven years and no doubt he will get a warm welcome pre-match from the home support.

The ‘Loons’ go into the fixture having not participated in a league fixture since the 19th of last month due to differing reasons and hopefully the squad who still sit proudly at the top the Ladbrokes League 2 table will have benefited from the enforced rest.

To be fair a few of the first team pool have taken part in a couple of Development fixtures, while there was also the run out in last Saturday’s hastily arranged friendly with Deveronvale.

However whether manager Gary Bollan will have a full squad to choose from is  matter of conjecture.

Tam O’Brien, Lewis Milne, Jim Lister and Josh Peters are all suffering from niggling injuries and will be assessed by the club’s medical team right up to kick-off, while the game might come to early for former ‘Lichties’ Andy Munro and Michael Travis.

As for the visitors they had gone eight games unbeaten until Edinburgh City picked up the points with a 1-0 win at Gayfield last weekend, this being followed by a Scottish Cup exit at Broadwood on Tuesday night, the ‘Bully Wee’ winning 5-0, a score that by all accounts did flatter them on the night.

Four former Station Park players were listed on the Arbroath team sheet on Tuesday evening, but only Omar Kader was in the starting eleven.

Arbroath who sit seven points adrift of the Athies in the table won the first joust between the sides this season, the final score line of 2-0 at a rainy Gayfield in October a fair reflection of the play on the day.

However that result will have no bearing on Saturday’s events and the usual feisty clash between the sides will no doubt be the order of the day.

The match will be refereed by Lanarkshire based David Lowe who will be making his third visit to Station Park this season.

Glamis based architects James F. Stephen are the match sponsors, while all four hospitality lounges within the complex are full to overflowing.

Admission charges are the normal £13 for adults, £7 concessions for the stand, £12/6 for the terracing.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and again on the final whistle till approximately 7.30p.m.

Finally Forfar Athletic are pleased to announce that segregation will not be enforced at the game but ask all supporters attending to come along, enjoy the occasion and co-operate fully with the stewards at all times.