MATCH PREVIEW: Peterhead v Forfar Athletic
[Wednesday, 24 December 2014 15:35]
The ‘Loons’ end the calendar year on Saturday with their first trip to Peterhead since March of 2011 to meet a home side who will be brimming with confidence following their solitary goal success over Morton at Cappielow last Saturday. Jamie Stevenson netted the only goal of a closely fought contest at Greenock in the first minute of the second period to see the ‘Blue Toon’ outfit’s points tally reach 23 from 16 games played,
That sees them sit 10 points adrift of Stanraer and Dick Campbell’s troops, although they still have an outstanding game at Ayr to play.
Forfar have no fresh injury worries to report with only long term victims Derek Young and Andrew Steeves sidelined. Dick may though decide to freshen up his starting line-up after last week’s home draw with Airdrie where to be fair Gavin Swankie and his colleagues played ‘second fiddle’ for long periods of the game.
To that end, the Manager was disappointed when Raith called off a closed doors friendly arranged for Monday past which would have seen the fringe players get ninety minutes of action. This will certainly happen next week with a game organised against local junior opposition for Monday evening. As ever of course the visiting back four will have to be on their mettle to nullify the threat of Rory McAllister, still undoubtedly one of the top target men in League One.
When the sides met at Station Park back in September, the Athies triumphed 1-0, Danny Denholm the scorer in the 43rd minute of the contest. It has to be said however that on the day the homesters ran out worthy winners, a fact acknowledged by Peterhead supremo Jim McInally in his after match comments.
It looks likely that the ‘Loons’ will be backed on Saturday by a reasonably strong visiting support in a match that will be refereed by Ayrshire based Kevin Graham who handled our home clash with Brechin in late September.