MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Ayr United

The ‘Loons’ welcome third placed Ayr United to Station Park on Saturday on the back of two quite frankly excellent performances away to Airdrie and at home to Cowdenbeath last weekend.

Sadly for Gary Bollan’s side neither match yielded a three point haul, a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw the end result in both fixtures.

These results allied to Brechin’s third win on the bounce has seen the Glebe Park side move equal on points with the Athies who sit in second bottom spot in the Ladbrokes League 1 on goal difference alone.

However Cowdenbeath who sit only two points ahead and for that matter Stenhousemuir are still in the sights of the Angus duo with as they say seven ‘cup finals’ ahead for all the teams concerned in the battle to beat the dreaded drop.

Forfar head into the fixture with a similar pool of players available to the management team, Martyn Fotheringham suspended last Saturday, likely to be side lined with the injury picked up at the Excelsior this time round.

There would be appear to be on paper to be two big decisions for the Station Park backroom staff.

Will a now fully fit again Steven Craig be given a starting role up front and will Bryan Hodge impressive from the bench last time out retain his place in midfield?

The club’s met only five weeks back in appalling overhead and underfoot conditions at Somerset Park, the ‘Honest Men’ winning 2-1 courtesy of two Ryan Stevenson goals.

Prior to that back in October at Forfar, the home side raced into a 2-0 half-time lead, but a the end of ninety minutes had to settle for a 2-2 score line, a similar result to that between the sides at Somerset in August when a Michael Travis injury time goal ‘saved the bacon’ for the visitors.

Saturday’s man in the middle will be Gavin Ross who took charge of the ‘Loons’ visit to Peterhead last month.

The match is sponsored by Scott Murdie and Lesley Deas under the Murdeas banner.

Forfar Athletic season ticket holders should utilise voucher 22.

Admission prices are the normal £13/7 for the stand, £12/6 for the terracing.

A reminder that the 1984 Lounge a the ground is open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and on the final whistle till approximately 7.30p.m. All supporters welcome.

The Forfar Athletic players received superb backing throughout the ninety minutes from the stand and terracing last Saturday, the home support appreciative of the attacking display of at times eye catching football.

Hopefully it will be more of the same this time round with a vital victory, which will be no easy task against Ian McCall’s side, the hoped for ‘icing on the cake’ for all concerned.