Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic – match preview

The ’Loons’ head into their penultimate cinch league2 fixture of the season in no doubt according to manager Ray McKinnon that two wins are the requirement to make certain of a place in the end of season league1 play-offs.

Anyone with the club at heart down to the youngest supporter would have ‘bitten your hand off’ to be in this situation away back in early November when the Athies were sitting at the bottom of the SPFL ‘pile’ but equally the results and performances and the end results since safety was attained back on April 1^st have been disappointing.

If those two victories are going to be attained, first and foremost, we are going to have to put a wee dampener on the ‘Binos’ championship trophy celebration afternoon.

Darren Young’s side who were deservedly confirmed as the champions following their win over Annan Athletic last weekend are due to receive the league trophy and their medals in the aftermath of tomorrow’s game.

The Forfar players will also have to for the first time this season defeat Albion who will go into the game on the back of an eighteen game unbeaten run.

A couple of the Station Park squad as seems to have been the case for many a week will require to have their fitness assessed prior to kick-off at Forthbank, but Roberto Nditi returns having served his two game ban.

The home side who had second half counters from Jack Leitch and Finn Duffy to thank for their title winning victory last Saturday in front of a bumper crowd of 1,435 have recorded two victories over the ‘Loons’ so far this term, the sides havin g also fought out an entertaining 0-0 draw at Station Park earlier in the year.

Thelatest contest, a midweek joust at Stirling in late March saw the home side win 2-0, one of their goals coming from leading marksman Dale Carrick.

Still all to play for as far as the Forfar Athletic management and players are concerned and it has to be emphasised at the right end of the table, as the season draws to a close.

However all Athies supporters will fully realise the task ahead of the players on Saturday but it is not insurmountable by any means.

Barry Cook is the experienced man in the middle at Forthbank, the second time he has handled a Forfar fixture this campaign.

A reminder that admission prices are as follows;-

Adults £15
65 & over £10
Students & Under 17’s £5

Under 12’s admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult

Saturday’s other cinch league 2 fixtures are;-Annan Athletic v Bonnyrigg Rose, East Fife v Albion Rovers, Elgin City v Dumbarton, Stranraer v Stenhousemuir