Forfar Athletic v The Spartans – match preview

Venue –Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 3rd February, 2024
cinch league 2 – match no 22

Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65 & over £9
Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £14
65& over £8
Under 17’s £5

Payment by cash at turnstile

Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture

1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to all supporters attending the fixture from 12.30p.m. to 2.50p.m. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8p.m., with the Wales v Scotland Six Nations fixture due to be featured live on the big screen tv

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and within the 1984 Lounge.

PREVIEW
The ‘Loons’ complete a quartet of successive home Saturday fixtures when The Spartans provide the opposition at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday afternoon.

Following on from the excellent cup tie performance two weeks back, there was an air of all round disappointment that we did not manage to secure all three points from the visit of Bonnyrigg last weekend but there was no doubting a draw was the correct result at the end of the day after a fairly dour affair.

Manager Ray McKinnon and his players know a tough ninety minutes lie ahead against the in form Capital City outfit, but as ever a three point haul is top of the agenda, especially with four of the next five league encounters that follow scheduled for ‘foreign soil.’

Although keeping his cards close to his chest, Ray admitted that one key member of the squad will require a later fitness test after pulling up in training during the week, but he is also hopeful of adding another new face to his pool of players prior to kick-off.

A freshening up of the starting line-up is also a potential outcome, all will be revealed come 3p.m. on Saturday.

Certainly although it seems at times we have struggled through injury, illness and suspension to field a settled side this term, the backbone of the team has been evident with Marc McCallum an ever present alongside Matty Allan, Stuart Morrison, Roberto Nditi, Finn Robson, Seb Ross and Mark Whatley all having made over twenty starting appearances to date with Tomas Brindley and Andy Munro despite their injury woes as well as Adam Hutchinson soon to reach that mark into the bargain.

Spartans head north no doubt on a high following a 3-0 midweek win away to East Fife, a result that lifted them into third spot in the league table.

Blair Henderson took is league2 scoring record to the dozen mark with a hat-trick in the game, the striker having been a goal scorer in both previous encounters with the ‘Loons’ this campaign.

Like their opponents on Saturday, Dougie Samuel’s side turned in a fine Scottish Cup performance, doing the division proud in the live televised tie with Hearts going down 2-1 to a last minute counter by the ‘Jambos’, this after former Forfar Athletic midfielder James Craigen had netted a spectacular equaliser for the Ainslie Park outfit.

Another familiar face in the Spartans squad is of course Danny Denholm, a fans favourite at Station Park back in the day.

With mild weather for the time of year forecast for Saturday, hopefully another reasonable turnout of the ‘Loons’ faithful will be on hand to support the cause as they have done to great effect this term.

Experienced official Lloyd Wilson is Saturday’s man in the middle.

C’mon the ‘Loons’

Match Sponsor – James F. Stephen Architects

Hospitality Guests – Canmore Boolers, D&A Factors Ltd. Dave Pearson & Friends, SGY Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

1984 Lounge Hospitality – Alison Neave & Friends

Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures;- Bonnyrigg Rose v Stranraer, Clyde v Peterhead, Elgin City v East Fife, Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton