Forfar Athletic v Formartine United – match preview

‘Loons’ supporters will get their first opportunity to see their new look side in action on home ‘soil’ when our good friends from the Highland League Formartine United visit Station Park on Saturday afternoon for a pre-season friendly.
Manager Ray McKinnon has to date brought in nine new faces to augment the eight players from last season’s squad still with the club.

Adam Hutchinson and Darren Watson of course are now fully fledged ‘Loons’ having spent the second half of last term on loan from Dundee United, while to refresh fans memories the other newcomers who will all hopefully get a run out on Saturday are young goalkeeper Zach Paris, defenders Matty Allan and Stuart Morrison, midfield men Keiran Inglis, Ryan Paterson and Mark Whately and striker Josh Skelly.

To date the Athies have looked sharp and pleasing to the eye in clashes with Montrose and Lochee United, the latter contest behind closed doors, with two victories recorded and nine goals scored.

Results are not the important feature of pre-season jousts however. Game time is the top and bottom line for all players at this juncture as the build up continues apace to the first competitive fixture on the 15th of the month.

Back to Saturday’s contest and Andy Munro is a doubt with a niggling injury but the remainder of the squad are presumed fit and raring to go against a side who finished fourth in the Highland League last term, albeit fifteen points adrift of the champions Brechin City.

The paths of the Pitmedden outfit and the ‘Loons’ have crossed quite a few times in recent years most recently in the first half of the 2021-22 campaign when we clashed in both the Challenge and Scottish Cups.
Forfar recorded a narrow 1-0 win at Station Park in the Challenge Cup, before running out deserved 2-0 winners on the day at North Lodge Park in the Scottish tie in October of ’21.

Formartine manager Stuart Anderson has made three significant close season signings and last Saturday they gave Cove Rangers a good run out before the League One side triumphed 3-0 at the Balmoral Stadium, a 2-0 success recorded over Culter on Wednesday evening.

The man in the middle on Saturday will be Joel Kennedy.

Saturday’s fixture has a 3p.m. kick off and Forfar Athletic season tickets are valid for the game.

Reduced admission prices of £10 for adults, £5 concessions will apply.

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will both be open on the day.

The 1984 Lounge facility is available to supporters of both clubs from 1.30p.m. till kick-off and on the final whistle until 6.30p.m.

Ray McKinnon’s side then complete their pre-season programme with a visit from a Dundee Under 20 side on Tuesday evening, before Cowdenbeath are the visitors to the ‘toonie’ on Saturday the 15th in the opening round of fixtures in the group stages of the Viaplay Cup, better known to older fans as the League Cup.