MATCH PREVIEW: Peterhead v Forfar Athletic

This Saturday’s fixture, the ‘Loons’ 49th competitive game of a long hard season of mixed fortunes needs little if any build up.

Quite simply the Athies head to Peterhead with a one goal advantage following Wednesday’s first leg knowing that they will have to play to their optimum performance level to pip the home side for that vital place in next season’s Ladbrokes League 1.

Wednesday’s first leg was yet again a game of two halves, how often have we said that this season?

The visitors had the upper hand in the first 45, following Rory McAllister’s early strike, the visiting custodian Graeme Smith still having to look lively to thwart David Cox as that half came to a conclusion.

However the sending off of on loan defender Michael McMullin early in the second period for a second bookable offence saw the pendulum swing in the home side’s favour and they poured forward in numbers, ‘Foxy’ equalising with a superb strike, before a diving header from Michael Travis, his third goal in four games sealed the victory.

The ‘Blue Toon’ outfit have appealed McMullin’s second yellow card so he will be eligible now for the second leg,

However it looks likely that both sides will go into the game minus a key player.

Rory McAllister misses out for the home side as he begins a two game ban on the totting up process, while ‘Loons’ skipper Gavin Swankie would need to make a miracle recovery from the groin injury sustained in Wednesday’s match to make the visitors starting eleven.

Following second half knocks, the homesters Jamie Stevenson and Forfar’s Jim Lister will both be receiving intensive treatment right up to kick-off.

Gary Bollan had a wealth of experience and no little talent available to him from the bench in midweek and certainly all concerned are capable of stepping ‘up to the plate’ if required.

It is sure to be a tense afternoon for all concerned and a reminder that away goals do not count in play-off fixtures in the event of a draw on aggregate, neither after 90 or 120 minutes of play in the second leg.

If that was the outcome on Saturday after two hours of play, a penalty shoot-out would be required.

Saturday’s match will be refereed by West Lothian based official Gavin Duncan, the first time he will have handled a Forfar fixture this term.

Station Park Management, Players and Officials have been thrilled by the magnificent support the team have received this season, especially in the recent play-off fixtures following the heartbreak on the last day of the league campaign.

This support looks likely to continue till the final ‘kick a the ba’ with a substantial travelling army it would appear heading to the Buchan coast by car and coach.

At the time of writing around a dozen seats remain available on the second coach chartered by the club for the trip to the Balmoor Stadium.

Let’s hope a season that began with a friendly against Raith Rovers back on June 28th of last year can end in style.