MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Peterhead
[Thursday, 11 September 2014 20:38]
The ‘Loons’ welcome Peterhead to Station Park on Saturday for the first time since July of 2011. One thing for certain is the fact that the visitors will adjust from the first minute to the pristine 3G playing surface at Station Park as they train on it every Wednesday evening!
The Balmoor outfit were runaway winners of League Two last season and to date have picked up five points from their four league fixtures, going down in extra time last Saturday to Livingston in the quarter final of the Petrofac Challenge Cup.
The home side were disappointed not to be in competitive action last weekend especially after their highly encouraging performance last time out at home to Morton where the final 3-2 score line in Forfar’s favour certainly did not flatter them.
Defender Jim Paterson signed last midweek will without doubt feature in Dick Campbell’s squad for the game, though whether he will get a starting berth with all eleven players who began the Morton fixture match fit, will be a difficult decision for the manager to ‘call.’
Chris Templeman, Martyn Fotheringham and Aaron James are still unlikely to be available through injury, while Andrew Steeves is also sidelined following the hamstring pull he picked up in the Forfarshire tie with Brechin City.
As ever the home defenders will have to be at their best to cope with the threat up front of Rory McAllister for the visitors while there will be a familiar face in Jim McInally’s line-up. Jordon Brown who had a spell on loan to the ‘Loons’ from Aberdeen is now a member of the ‘Blue Toon’ squad. A measure of the strength in depth in the visitors pool, the fact that players of the calibre of Andy Rodgers and David Cox could only gain a seat on the bench last time out.
Peterhead’s last visit to Station Park was in fact on league cup business in the early part of the 2011/12 season, goals from Stevie Crawford and Chris Templeman securing a 2-0 win for the home side.
Saturday’s fixture will be refereed by Glasgow based Don Robertson who handled his first Premiership contest on the opening day of league business last month.
The match is sponsored by Quinn Safety Consultancy Ltd.
Forfar Athletic season ticket holders should utilise voucher 8, while ground admission prices are the normal £12 for adults, £6 concessions.
A reminder to supporters of both sides that the 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open for business from 12.30p.m.