MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Cowdenbeath

The ‘Loons’ will go into Saturday’s crucial home Ladbrokes League 1 fixture with Cowdenbeath undoubtedly boosted by an excellent performance at Airdrie on Tuesday past.
On the night only a failure to put away a handful of glorious goal scoring opportunities, allied to some fine goalkeeping from Neil Parry denied the Station Park men the three points their display deserved.
Saturday’s game is the proverbial ‘six pointer.’ A win for the Fifers would see them move five points clear of the Athies in third bottom spot, but more importantly a win for the home eleven would see Gary Bollan’s side move out of the bottom two with seven games of the campaign remaining. Four of those remaining home games are also due on home ‘turf.’
Forfar’s starting line-up is likely to be along similar lines to the team that finished the match at the Excelsior on Tuesday evening, the only change the possible return of striker Steven Craig who missed out in midweek due to virus, which had also limited his participation at Stranraer to the first 45.
Martyn Fotheringham who returned to the side on Tuesday is ruled out through a one match suspension on the totting up process. However the injury he picked up in the first period in midweek may have meant a seat on the side lines in any case.
The visitors are also hit by a similar suspension woe, with the influential Dean Brett forced to sit out the Station Park clash.
The Central Park outfit managed by Colin Nish have obviously missed the influential presence since January of Rangers loanee Andy Murdoch in midfield, after the Ibrox management decided to elevate him to Championship status with Queen of the South for the second half of the season.
Striker Greig Spence is undoubtedly the ‘Blue Brazil’s’ main threat and the home rearguard will have to be alert to that particular danger from the first whistle.
Cowdenbeath triumphed 2-1 on their own patch back in September in the first clash of the season between the sides, prior to notching a solitary goal victory at Station Park in mid December, the aforementioned Spence the marksman on that occasion.
Just over two weeks back, the ‘Loons’ got back to winning ways at Central Park with a comprehensive 4-1 win, Andy Ryan, Gareth Rodger, Steven Craig and Kerr Hay the scorers that Tuesday evening.
Since then Cowden went on to clinch an excellent 3-2 win at Stenhousemuir, before losing 4-1 at Ayr and 3-1 at home to Airdrie.
Saturday’s contest will be refereed by Gavin Duncan who was also in charge of Forfar’s televised defeat at Ayr just four weeks back.
The match is sponsored by Graham & Sibbald, Chartered Surveyors.
Forfar Athletic season ticket holders should utilise voucher 21.
Admission prices are the usual £13/7 for the stand, £12/6 for the terracing.
A reminder that the 1984 Lounge at the ground, situated a the west end of the main stand will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and again on the final whistle until approximately 7.30p.m. All supporters welcome.
Hopefully given the importance of the outcome of the contest and the very favourable weather forecast, a reasonable home support as has been the case for most of the campaign will turn out to back Gavin and his colleagues on the day.