MATCH PREVIEW: Edinburgh City v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ will head to Meadowbank Stadium for the first time since 1994 on Saturday to meet Edinburgh City in what is the Lowland League champions historic first ever Ladbrokes League fixture.

The match will also be the Athies first game in the fourth tier of the Scottish game for six years and naturally Gary Bollan and his players will be desperate to spoil the home side’s party and get off to a winning start themselves.

Following on their excellent home showings in the Betfred Cup against both Dumbarton and East Fife, it came as a bit of a shock to all connected at Station Park when Dundee proceeded to dish out a 7-0 hammering at Dens last weekend.

However the players will now have had two training sessions under their belt in midweek to put that setback behind them.

Gary who is still trying to add a player or two to his squad will go with the same group of players for the visit to the Capital City with in all probability eight players making their league debut for the club at the ground originally built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

Marc Scott played 45 minutes of a development game against Dundee United at St. Andrews on Wednesday night, but Saturday’s encounter will come to quick for him.   He will get some more vital game time in a friendly against junior opposition next Tuesday evening.

The home side who defeated Cove Rangers and East Stirling in the play-offs in the spring to qualify for league status have strengthened their squad in the close season with five newcomers arriving.   Former Scotland striker Craig Beattie has been joined at City by ex Hibernian keeper Calum Antell who spent last season with Nairn County, Neil Martynuik released by St. Johnstone, Ryan Porteous on loan from Easter Road and Dean Cummings captured from Lothian Thistle Hutchsion Vale.

They lost all four games in a particularly tough Betfred Cup section and were then probably slightly disappointed to go down by the odd goal in three to Motherwell Under 20’s in the Irn Bru tourney on Tuesday past.

No doubt though that their manager Gary Jardine will have them ‘buzzing’ for Saturday’s contest and the visitors will have to be in a similar frame of mind from the first whistle.

The match will be handled by Kemnay based Graham Beaton, last season’s Scottish Junior Cup Final referee who is beginning his first season on the Grade One list.

Admission charges are similar to Station Park at £12 for adults, £6 concessions.   They also offer £2 admission to Under 12’s accompanied by an adult or OAP.

There are still a couple of seats left on the Supporters Coach to Edinburgh.   They can be booked by phoning or texting 07871165689.