MATCH PREVIEW: Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic
[Thursday, 18 September 2014 13:55]
The paths of Stirling Albion and Forfar Athletic will cross for the first time since March of 2012 when the sides meet in the SPFL League One at the Forthbank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In fact the last clash between the sides at Station Park turned out to a be seven goal thriller won for the ‘Loons’ by a late Kevin Byers counter, a result that on the day moved Dick Campbell’s side five points ahead of Albion in the relegation struggle of the time. Forfar’s other scorers on that early spring afternoon, Bradley Coyne, Chris Templeman and Martyn Fotheringham.
Thirty months on and Forfar go into this weekend’s fixture against last season’s play-off winners in good heart having maintained their 100 per cent home league record against Peterhead last Saturday. The final 1-0 score line was not without doubt a fair reflection of the overall play, especially taking into account the ‘Loons’ dominance of the first 45 minutes of the action.
The Station Park men have no new injury worries with all eleven who began the match last week ready and raring to go again, if the manager sticks with the same starting line up.
Martyn Fotheringham will return to the pool, having completed the full ninety minutes in the Development side’s midweek win over Stenhousemuir.
Albion have had a mixed start on their return to the third tier of Scottish football, the highlight an astonishing 5-4 away win at Stenhosuemuir, two defeats and two draws in their other four contests bringing them a five point tally to date.
Manager Greig McDonald can actually call on three former ‘Loons’ in David McClune, Greg Paterson and Willie Robertson, although only David was in the starting line up for last week’s visit of Brechin, Greg and Willie having to settle for a spot on the ‘bench.’
Former Dundee and Arbroath striker Steven Doris returned after injury in the closing twenty minutes of the 5-0 defeat from City last week and may well be on from the start this Saturday.
The ‘Loons’ squad will travel keen to record their first competitive away success of the campaign and hopefully quite a few supporters will make the 60 mile journey down the dual carriageway to give them their backing.
The match will be refereed by experienced Grade One official and former Scotland cricket team captain George Salmond.