SPFL Trust Trophy – Elgin City v Forfar Athletic – match preview

Forfar Athletic head north on Tuesday to ‘lock horns’ with Elgin City for the second time in four days, this time in a second round clash in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

It is not a competition in which the ‘Loons’ have the greatest of records for example going out at this stage last term, to Kelty Hearts the final score line in a hard fought encounter 2-1 in the Fife side’s favour.

Both Ray McKinnon and Ross Draper though emphasising a strong desire to maintain an interest in the tournament and avoid a blank Saturday in early September in the first instance are likely to tinker with their starting line-ups in comparison to Saturday past.

The Forfar boss may well give a run out to outfield subs on Saturday Tomas Brindley, Ryan Paterson, Craig Thomson and Darren Whyte while Andy Munro unavailable due to a family commitment at the weekend is also likely to return.

On the injury front Josh Skelly will again be an absentee but hopes are high that he could be fit for the weekend trip to Dumbarton.

There is good news however on the Seb Ross front. Though the attack minded midfield player may not be risked at Boroughbriggs, the diagnosis on the shoulder injury he received in the league fixture is good.

Following x-rays on Saturday evening only severe bruising was the prognosis and not a dislocation or break that had been feared. All going well he too should be ok for the trip to the banks of the Clyde on Saturday.

After a couple of goalless encounters the Athies will be hoping to re-discover the way to goal in the cup clash and move on to the third round when the remainder of the cinch league1 and all Championship clubs enter the fray as well as the participants from Northern Ireland and Wales.

A reminder that Tuesday night’s tie will go straight to a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes if the scores are level.

The man in the middle is Jordan Curran who handled a couple of the ‘Loons’ league fixtures last season.

Reduced admission prices of £10 for adults, £5 concessions have been agreed by both sides. Tickets can be purchased in advance, details can be found on the Elgin City website, but cash turnstiles are also available.

The kick-off is at the normal midweek timing of 7.45p.m.