Match Preview – Arbroath v Forfar Athletic

Ladbrokes League 1

Venue – Gayfield

Date – Saturday, September 15th – kick-off 3 p.m.

Admission Prices – Adults £15    Concession £8    Parent & Child £18

League Positions – Arbroath 1st place – 11points from 5 games   Forfar Athletic 5th place – 7 points from 5 games

Summary – The ‘Loons’ at last play their first of what will be twelve Angus derby fixtures this term when they visit Gayfield on Saturday to take on unbeaten league leaders Arbroath.   It will also be the first of three derby matches in successive Saturdays for Jim Weir’s squad with Brechin due at Station Park on Saturday week, Links Park the destination on the final Saturday of the month.

The Athies go into the game with the 4-0 defeat at Starks Park on the 1st of the month still all too fresh in the memory.  They have however had five purposeful sessions on the training ground since and will go into the game with high hopes of getting a positive result against the ‘Lichties’ who of course triumphed on all four occasions that the sides met last term.  A ‘bitter pill’ indeed for all connected with the Station Park club to swallow.

Injury will again rule out Michael Travis from Jim Weir’s selection process while Matthew Aitken though back in training is still some way short of match fitness.   The two-week break has given Dale Hilson a much-needed opportunity to fully recover from his back problem, so hopefully, he will be one hundred per cent fit and raring to go come 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Manager Jim Weir is also very hopeful of adding a striker to his squad in the next 24 hours, but as ever no confirmation will come from the club until all paperwork is signed and ratified.

The Gayfield outfit have won three and drawn two of their five league matches to date, though were disappointed to surrender a two-goal lead against Brechin City a fortnight back, this after goals from Jason Thomson and Bobby Linn had put them two up within the first twenty minutes.   

Five former ‘Loons’ players were in Dick Campbell’s squad for that fixture.

Arbroath returned to winning ways in the Irn Bru Cup last weekend when a much-changed starting line up proved too good on the day for Annan Athletic to set up a third-round home clash with Edinburgh City.

Back to Saturday’s contest and there is little doubt that the Forfar management team and players will wish to put the Raith result, unexpected as it was as far as the final scoreline panned out behind them and get back into points gathering mode.

The travelling support can also play their part by lending their voices the cause from the off.

Match Officials – Referee –  Gavin Duncan   Assistants – Gordon Crawford & Barry Dickson