Stranraer v Forfar Athletic – match preview

The ‘Loons’ head for Stair Park on Saturday, their third away day on the bounce.

They will do so hoping to complete a hat-trick of away victories following on their 1-0 success in the league at Elgin and their 3-1 triumph in the cup at Kilwinning last weekend, prior to a Station Park double header in early November when Annan Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose will be the visitors.

There is little doubt that those successes will have instilled a confident streak within the ‘Loons’ ranks that had been missing at times in the early part of the campaign but they will be taking nothing for granted as they prepare to face Jamie Hamill’s outfit.

Certainly the Wigtownshire venue was a happy hunting ground for the Athies last season with two victories recorded, in fact Gary Irvine’s charges picked up  ten points from their four clashes with Stranraer over the course of the campaign.

That form was maintained earlier this term when the home side recorded what is still their only Station Park victory of this season to date, a 2-0 win the final outcome of the fixture played out in the August sunshine, second half counters from Craig Slater and Andy Munro the difference between the sides on the day.

Disappointingly Craig will not be in the starting eleven this time round as the hamstring  tweak he picked up in the early stages of the game at Buffs Park is likely to rule him out for at least a couple of weeks.

Darren Whyte who did not appear for the second period against the ‘wee’ Rangers is also a doubt, while Ben Armour serves the second and final game of his suspension.

Craig Thomson however who missed the cup tie due to a stomach bug  has been back in training all week, while long term injury victim Nathan Flanagan is likely to feature in the match day squad.

The home side exited the Scottish Cup up at Fraserburgh last Saturday and will be keen to show their bounce back ability in front of their own fans.

In the league they currently sit in seventh position in the table, two points ahead of their Saturday visitors. 

In their last league encounter a second half equaliser from James Hilton saw them glean a point from their derby fixture at Annan, Elgin the victors at Stranraer the previous week.

Man in the middle on Saturday George Calder will be refereeing a Forfar fixture for the third time this season.

Admission prices at Stair Park are £15 for adults, £10 concessions and £5 for under 16’s.

Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures are;-Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir, Annan Athletic v Dumbarton, East Fife v Elgin City, Stirling Albion v Bonnyrigg Rose