Forfar Athletic v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic – Match Preview
Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.
Saturday 19th April, 2025
William Hill league 2 – match no 34
Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £16
65 & over £10
Under 17’s £1
Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65& over £10
Under 17’s £1
Payment on the day by cash at turnstile. Buy tickets online now here - https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_bonnyrigg_rose_athletic_0425
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture.
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm. to 2.50pm. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm.
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
On Saturday the ‘Loons’ play their penultimate home game in their William Hill League2 campaign when they entertain Bonnyrigg Rose. There is no hiding from the fact that it is a huge game for both clubs. Simply put if Forfar Athletic avoid defeat in the contest they secure their SPFL status while the visitors require a victory to continue their fight to avoid the dreaded 42nd spot in the current league ladder. That placing as all know brings with a two legged play-off against either the Highland or Lowland League champions, a winner take all tie over 180 minutes in May.
Manager Jim Weir and his players go into tomorrow’s match in confident mode on the back of a four game unbeaten run that has yielded eight points. They have also recorded three victories to date this campaign against the Midlothian outfit. However Jim knows that their opponents will be well prepared and fired up for the occasion as they enter what is for them ‘last chance saloon.’
The ‘Loons’ management team have already warned their players to take nothing for granted and have in fact set the squad a target of winning their last three games as the season reaches its conclusion, on current form not a task that should be beyond them?
The home side will disappointingly have to play those last three games without the services of influential skipper Stuart Morrison sidelined following a hamstring injury sustained in the dying embers of last Saturday’s hard fought draw away to Clyde. Youngsters Sam Young or Adam Hutchinson are two of the potential replacements available. That apart the remainder of the squad who have had such a great run of performances and results since the 2-1 midweek win at Stranraer in early March to eradicate a ten point gap at the foot of the table all took a full part in training this past week and are fit and ready for action.
Bonnyrigg head north having not managed to win a league fixture since early February when they defeated Clyde 2-1 at home. During that period they also changed the man at the helm, former player Jonny Stewart recruited from Tranent taking over the reins from Callum Elliott. He will not be able to call on the services of Ryan Porteous for the Station Park clash after he was sent off in last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat from East Fife for two yellow card offences.
There is no more to be said. It is hoped that the home support will again turn out in numbers to back their side as the players attempt to get over what is the ‘final hurdle’ in what has been their quest since the turn of the year and ‘put to bed’ with no disrespect to others intended, the nightmare scenario hanging over the club for a large part of this season, tier five football in either the Highland or Lowland League next season.
Alastair Grieve is the man in the middle for Saturday’s clash.
C’mon the ‘Loons’
Match Sponsor – Lee Hutcheon Painter & Decorator Limited
Hospitality Guests – James F Stephen Architects, Bruce Gordon & Friends, Scott Neave & Friends, Andrew Shepherd Construction
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Jim McDevitt & Friends
Saturday’s other William Hill league 2 Fixtures – East Fife v Stirling Albion, Elgin City v Peterhead, Stranraer v Clyde, The Spartans v Edinburgh City
