MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Elgin City

The ‘Loons’ head into Saturday’s home game with Elgin City having secured an eleven point lead at the top of the Ladbrokes League 2 table following a highly efficient, professional all round team performance against Arbroath at Gayfield last Saturday.

In testing conditions and cheered on by a substantial travelling support, Gavin and his team mates kept a fairly tight grip on a game which saw Josh Peters net what turned out to be the decisive goal in the 37th minute.

The team ethic which has been a feature in recent games from Gary Bollan’s side was perhaps never better illustrated than in the first half of last Saturday’s contest.   The ‘Lichties’ with a gale force wind to their advantage which undoubtedly subsided by the second period,  were restricted to barley a shot on goal throughout that first 45 minutes of the contest.

Looking forward to this Saturday’s visit of Elgin City and there is no doubt that Jim Weir’s side will prove another severe test for the home side who will be attempting to stretch their recent unbeaten run into double figures.

Manager Gary Bollan, January’s League 2 Manager of the Month, is unlikely to make many if any changes to his starting line-up.

There was not a failure in the ranks last weekend and many fans commented on the strength available to the manager from the subs bench with a fully fit pool at his disposal.

That fact is perhaps emphasised by the decision to send promising young defender Murray MacKintosh out on loan for a few weeks to Carnoustie Panmure to get some Saturday game time under his belt in the East Region Super League.

Elgin had no game last week following their last minute postponement at Cowdenbeath.   This allowed the Borough Briggs management team to head quickly to Arbroath where they took in the final hour of the action.

City arrive at Forfar in third place in the table, fifteen points adrift of the Athies, but crucially with two games in hand.   They also carry a potent strike force with Shane Sutherland the leading scorer in the league by some distance with seventeen goals to his credit, three in their last game, a 3-1 home win over Edinburgh City.  Brian Cameron has also netted nine times, while the Highlanders received many a plaudit for their battling performance before losing 2-1 to Caley Thistle in the fourth round of the cup last month.

The two games between the sides already this season have been close fought affairs.

Back in late August at Station Park the ‘Loons’ came out on top 3-2.   Thomas O’Brien netted a brace, Josh Peters the other marksman, Chris McLeish both counters for the visitors.

Than at Elgin on January 2nd,  the end result was a 2-2 draw with the visitors equalising through Danny Denholm in the 65th minute, by which time they were down to ten men.

As hinted previously all connected with the Station Park club were thrilled and delighted with the numbers who travelled to Arbroath last Saturday and equally as importantly the level of backing they provided.

Hopefully this will be reflected again as it has been at recent home encounters in the crowd figure on Saturday, a reasonably dry day forecast at present, if a little chilly, but then again it is February!

The referee on Saturday is Lanarkshire based Alan Newlands, his one previous visit to Station Park this term for our Irn Bru tie against Raith Rovers.

The match is sponsored by J&E Shepherd Surveyors with all the Hospitality Lounges/tables fully subscribed as ever.

Admission charges are £13/7 for the stand, £12/6 for the ground.

Finally the usual reminder.   The 1984 Lounge a the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and on the final whistle till around 8p.m.   All supporters welcome.