MATCH PREVIEW: Alloa Athletic v Forfar Athletic

This Saturday Forfar Athletic head to the Indodrill Stadium (or as many will still know it, Recreation Park) to play Alloa Athletic for the first time in a senior fixture since May 2015.  All those turning out to support the Loons will be hoping for a better outcome this weekend. That Championship play-off Final ended in a bitterly disappointing 3-0 defeat on a dank day which will unfortunately live long in the memory of many Forfar fans. 

More than two years later and on a more positive note both Alloa and Forfar will be seeking to secure a win to move up the table. The Wasps are currently a point ahead of the Loons in seventh spot with their league report card featuring one win, one draw and two defeats - including their last league fixture loss to Airdrie.  

After a tough run of games on the road, the most recent league match for the Station Park side, also ended in a defeat at home to Albion Rovers last month. Manager Gary Bollan took advantage of last Friday’s hastily arranged friendly against East of Scotland League side Kelty Hearts to give the full squad (aside from the injured Conor Quigley and Grant Adam) a run out at some point during the game. While Scotland were defeating Lithuania, Forfar came back from a goal down to run out 4-1 winners. ‘Debut’ goals came from Patrick Cregg and Dylan Easton and a first counter this season for the returning Josh Peters. The other goal at New Central Park came from Scott McBride.  With a more or less full complement to choose from this Saturday – only the suspended Matthew Aiken joins Conor and Grant on the side-lines – it will be interesting to see the line-up favoured by the management team.

Alloa manager Jim Goodwin will be looking for his side to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend’s IRN-BRU Cup exit at Tannadice. While the Loons were ‘enjoying’ a free Saturday, Alloa put up an excellent show against Dundee United and will feel somewhat aggrieved to have lost the match to two injury time goals. Whilst most home fans would describe the tie as a dour encounter, hopefully Gary and Coach Ian Flaherty - who took in the match - will have found some chinks in the Alloa armoury and will certainly have the lads prepared and ready to go at 3pm.  

Saturday’s referee is Kevin Graham who will be assisted by Graham McNeillie and Alan Grainger.