Forfar Athletic v East Fife – match preview

Venue –Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 19^th October, 2024

William Hill league 2 – match no 10

Stand admission charges are;-

Adults £16
65 & over £10
Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission charges are;-

Adults £15
65& over £10
Under 17’s £5

Payment on the day 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 supporters from12.30p.m. to 2.50p.m.  The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8p.m.  

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 pre-match in the 1984 Lounge.

PREVIEW

The ‘Loons’ begin the second quarter of the William Hill League2 campaign with what is their local derby these days, a mouth watering visit from league leaders East Fife.

Both sides go into the game having been inactive in a match playing sense last weekend, but manager Ray McKinnon takes positives from the blank weekend.

Since the disappointing loss to Stirling Albion on the 5^th of the month, especially following successive wins over Stranraer and Bonnyrigg, the players have worked exceptionally hard in training and in preparing for the visit of the Methil outfit as they strive to move away from their current position in the lower echelons of the table.

Ray like everyone at the club is looking forward to getting back to competitive football with few enforced breaks weather problems apart from now until the end of the campaign.

He realises that the visit of the Fifers will be a tough proposition  for his players but he is in no doubt that victory and with it a welcome three points is achievable.

‘It will be a tough game, East Fife are where they are for a reason.  They have been the best and most consistent side in the league to this point’ commented the Forfar boss.

Ray will have the same twenty man squad at his disposal as was the case at Forthbank two weeks back, Adam Hutchinson sadly still an absentee.

The home support will have the first opportunity to see latest acquisition Cameron Logan in action, the former Queen of the South defender signed just hours before the Forthbank kick-off.

Finlay Allan also got some second half game time at Stilring, while Josh Skelly, Russell MacLean, Arran Cocks and Rayan Mohammed all on the bench against Albion are available to provide options up front.

As was the case last term the Athies defence has been solid for most of the campaign to date, getting the ball in the opposition net a significant problem.

However Kieran Inglis, Nathan Cannon and Bradley Rodden have all looked sharp in periods over the past trio of fixtures and as the say ‘hope springs eternal.’

Dick Campbell’s side will arrive in fine fettle following their 5-0 trouncing of Bonnyrigg two weeks back, Alan Trouten such a prolific scorer for some time in the lower leagues netting a hat-trick.

Former ‘Loons’ skipper Andy Munro will return to The Alpha Projects Stadium@Station Park in unfamiliar colours, his side currently sitting on the 21 point mark four clear of their nearest opponents.

Another interesting name in Dick’s chosen starting eleven last time out was East Fife’s recent signing on loan from Dunfermline Andrew Tod who netted goal number five.   

The youngster is the son of the Athies former wholehearted skipper of the same name.

Forfar were somewhat unlucky to lose the early season fixture at Methil 2-1.

Nathan Austin gave the home side the lead two minutes before the half-time whistle, an own goal from Andy in the early stages of the second period, squaring matters before a penalty converted by the aforementioned Trouten in the 80^th minute sealed the visitors fate.

The visitors are likely to bring a substantial support over the Tay to back them, hopefully leading to an excellent atmosphere, with the home support ready to play their part as always.

Jordan Curran who refereed our fixture at New Dundas Park three weeks back is again the man in the middle.

Supporters will also be given the opportunity to show their appreciation for club ‘icon’ Jimmy Liddle who passed away at far too young an age last weekend, when a period of applause will be held in his memory just prior to kick-off.  The club flag will fly at half mast throughout the day.

C’mon the ‘Loons’

Match Sponsor – Alpha Projects Ltd

Hospitality Guests – Orchard Timber Products Ltd. Colin Anderson & Friends, Liam Deas & Friends

1984 Lounge Hospitality – Rodney Leel & Friends

Saturday’s other William Hill league2 fixtures;-Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Edinburgh City, Stirling Albion v Clyde, Stranraer v Peterhead, The Spartans v Elgin City