Kelty Hearts v Forfar Athletic – match preview

Forfar Athletic head into the penultimate weekend of the 36 game league campaign still striving for a second-place finish.

However with a visit to champions Kelty Hearts on the ‘menu’ for Saturday first that will be no easy task.

In fact due to the vagaries of the cinch league2 fixture list this season, Ross Meechan and his colleagues could go into Saturday’s contest at New Central Park needing all three points to stay in the race for that coveted runner-up spot.

That will be the case if Annan Athletic were to win at Ainslie Park against Edinburgh City in the Friday evening fixture.

Is a win a realistic proposition for the ‘Loons’ against the champions who are unbeaten at home in the league this season with a record to date of thirteen wins and four draws?

On the evidence of last Saturday’s first half performance or for that matter the joust with Kelty at Station Park two months ago when that Athies inflicted one of the three defeats that Kevin Thomson’s side have suffered to date the answer is most definitely yes.

It will be no easy task against a home side who will be up for the game no doubt with the trophy and medal presentation ceremony scheduled after the final whistle for the deserved winners of the title and we again add our congratulations.

They have a strong battle-hardened squad with three of them, Jamie Barjonas, Michael Tidser and Joe Cardle shortlisted for the SPFA League2 Player of the Year Award alongside Annan’s Owen Moxon, while their manager is a stick-on favourite for the managerial award.

Many Forfar fans will question the omission nevertheless of Craig Slater in particular from the player shortlist.

Back to Saturday’s game and all at Station Park will be keen to continue with the playoffs on the horizon the excellent form and superb football that was on show last Saturday which quite simply blew Annan away in that first 45.

This was despite Andy Munro joining Steven Anderson and Jamie Ness on the long term injury list and they will all miss out again this weekend.

However, the sharp crisp passing game was actually in evidence in the Capital City the previous week, the missing ingredient on that occasion, the ‘cutting edge.’

Matty Aitken, the highly impressive Steven Warnock and not forgetting hat trick hero Stefan McCluskey provided that in abundance when required against the Galabank outfit.

Let’s hope the correct mix is in evidence again from the off this time round in Fife and we can contribute in a positive manner to what will be a big day without doubt for the host club.

The right result will also set up an exciting finale to the league campaign for Gary Irvine and his squad when Stenhousemuir come calling on Saturday week.

Calum Scott who handled our cup tie at Formartine in October is the man in the middle on Saturday.

Admission prices at Kelty are Adults £13, Concessions £8 while on Saturday all under 12’s are being admitted free.

This weekend’s other fixtures in the cinch league 2 are;-

Friday – Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic

Saturday – Albion Rovers v Stirling Albion, Elgin City v Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir v Stranraer