Ladbrokes League 1
Venue – Station Park
Date – Saturday 21st September
Admission Prices – Stand – Adults £15 Concessions (65& over) £9 Under 17’s £5
Terracing – Adults £14 Concessions £8 Under 17’s £5
Forfar Athletic season tickets valid for this fixture.
Terracing season ticket holders to enter via the gate at mart end of main turnstile block.
Current League Positions – Forfar Athletic – 8th – 7 points from 6 games Montrose – 10th – 1 point from 6 games
Summary – After a traumatic week on the Scottish football front to date with the passing of Fernando Ricksen, the near-fatal heart attack suffered by Hearts legend Jim Jeffries on an East Lothian golf course and the horrific accident involving Jim and Barry we will mercifully return to action on the field come Saturday afternoon.
Jim Weir and Barry Sellars are both still hopeful of being at Station Park for the derby clash with Montrose and they will both no doubt receive a warm welcome from all concerned.
When the ‘Loons’ and the ‘Gable Endies’ met in a top of the table clash on the penultimate Saturday of the league season back in April, no one would have possibly envisaged the situation the clubs would find themselves in as they prepare to do battle in League One action for the first time this campaign.
The home side go into the game with a record of one draw and three defeats from their last four league games, while the visitors after picking up a point at Stranraer on the opening day of the season have gone on to lose all five games since.
Remarkably however this is already the third competitive meeting between the sides this season. Back in mid-July at Links Park, the visitors triumphed 4-1 in a Betfred Cup sectional tie, then some three weeks later at the same venue, it was the hosts who came out on top, the scoreline 2-1 in a Tunnocks tie.
The home management team have been dealt a blow before a ball is kicked on Saturday with the news that Dale Hilson will miss out through injury. Dale was the victim of a shocking second-half challenge by Falkirk defender Mark Durnin last week which astonishingly saw the ‘Bairns’ defender remain on the pitch despite having already been booked earlier in the contest. The news from the treatment room is that as a consequence Dale will be an absentee for at least two weeks.
Andy Jackson is ready no doubt to step into the breach while Jim Weir is looking to bring in a fresh face to his squad, hopefully before kick-off on Saturday, further news awaited.
The home boss will no doubt also be once again contemplating the odd change or two to his starting line-up after last week’s 3-0 defeat, but to be fair he was pleased with the way that his charges coped in the end following the loss of two early goals at the Falkirk Stadium against the team ranked as firm favourites for the title.
Montrose lost 3-1 at home to East Fife last weekend and manager Stewart Petrie would also have been disappointed to lose the influential Terry Masson to a second-half red card which will see him sit out Saturday’s contest.
It goes without saying that despite the season being in its infancy, Saturday’s derby clash is of vital importance to both sides as they attempt to get some momentum going and start to climb up the table.
Match Officials – Referee – Chris Fordyce Assistants – David Dunne & Terry Ormiston
Match Sponsor – MMG Archbold – Chartered Accountants
Hospitality Complex Guests – Steve Brown & Friends, Kevin Candy & Friends, Dave Pearson & Friends, Jane Rae & Friends
Match Ball Sponsor – David McGregoir
Supporters Information –
The 1984 Lounge at Station Park will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off. The lounge will re-open on the final whistle until around 8p.m.
Club Shop open prior to kick-off and during the half-time interval. Seats can be booked at the Club Shop for Supporters Coach to Dumbarton on 5th October
A limited number of team sheets will be available while stocks last free of charge at the Club Shop, the Refreshment Kiosk or within the 1984 Lounge.
50/50 tickets available from vendors inside the ground.
