‘Loons’ head to Brora

Following a very encouraging performance despite resources being stretched to the limit against near-neighbours Montrose on Tuesday past, Gary Irvine and his squad now make the long trek north on Saturday to face Highland League Bora Rangers in a Group C fixture in the Premier Sports Cup.

The Athies head into the game in the top spot in the table, having been awarded the three points by default against Ross County last weekend but will be in no doubt that a hard task awaits them at Dudgeon Park.

Brora have lost both their away games in the tournament over the past week, 3-0 to Montrose, before a 4-0 defeat at Dens Park on Tuesday evening.   However, they will be a totally different proposition on home soil, where of course they knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup in late March.

Forfar have made one previous visit to Sutherland on ‘active service’ winning 3-1 in a Scottish tie back in the autumn of 2008, but Brora were a very different club and side in those days.

Last season in the League Cup, the sides fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw in a sectional midweek tie at Station Park, the home side winning the bonus point as they did on Tuesday past against the ‘Gable Endies’ in the penalty shoot-out.

Gary will hope to have a few of Tuesday night’s absentees at his disposal for Saturday’s game, seven members of the first-team squad unavailable for different reasons for the Montrose visit.

Grant Anderson should be fully fit after injury, while Sam Fisher returns having served his one-match suspension held over from last season.   Thankfully a couple of the players sidelined for covid related reasons over the past week are also likely to be fit and available for the trip north.

It will be an early start for the ‘Loons’ player’s on Saturday morning, most having to leave their homes in good time to make an 8.30 a.m. departure slot from Perth from where the A9 beckons followed by a late morning stop in Inverness for a pre-match meal.

It is also an expensive exercise for the club due to the stringent travel rules in regard to social distancing still enforced by the SPFL, two 53 seat team coaches having to be utilised.

It will as ever be well worth it if the return journey is completed with three points ‘under the belt.’

The other game in the section this weekend takes place on Sunday when Ross County entertain Dundee, the ‘Loons’ final game scheduled for Saturday week at Dens Park.