Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton – match preview

Venue –Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3p.m.
Saturday 16th December, 2023
cinch league 2 – match no 16

Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65 & over £9
Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £14
65& over £8
Under 17’s £5

Payment by cash at turnstile

Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture

1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to FAFC supporters only, sponsors and hospitality guests, as well as visiting club officials from 12.30p.m. to 2.50p.m. (This decision has been made necessary to avoid overcrowding within the premises.)
It will re-open on the final whistle to all until approximately 8p.m.
The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and within the 1984 Lounge.

PREVIEW
Although there are no easy games in the cinch league2 this campaign, the ‘Loons’ now enter what on paper is a really tough quartet of fixtures over the Festive Period with the three current top placed teams in the table featuring in the ‘opposition corner.’

The first of those game tomorrow sees third placed Dumbarton under the management of Steve Farrell head north to Station Park. However manager Ray McKinnon and his squad go into the game in confident mode, well prepared for the task ahead and keen to record a home victory, this despite the setback of conceding the only goal of the game in the Capital City in the closing twenty minutes of the contest last Saturday.

There is good news on the player availability front. Matty Allan who looked in some discomfort when he left the field of play at Ainslie Park with what was at first feared to be hands fracture and headed straight for the nearby hospital has been pronounced fit to take up his normal central defensive role, while Tomas Brindley and Rory MacLeod return to the match day squad. Euan Mutale remains an absentee due to illness, while Craig Thomson is also ruled out meantime.

The ‘Sons’ go into the game having also lost 1-0 last Saturday, league leaders Stenhousemuir having netted an 87th minute winner at the Dumbarton Stadium.

Like Forfar, they have a big cup tie to look forward to next month, in their case a televised home clash with Rangers, this following an extraordinary 5-4 extra time win at Annan a few weeks back in round three of the national tournament.

In mid August, Dumbarton triumphed 3-1 on home turf against on the day a depleted Athies line up who in fact dominated the first half and went in at the interval deservedly one up through a Seb Ross counter.
David Wilson evened up matters early in the second period and late goals from Finlay Gray and Ross MacLean clinched the victory for the home side.

Back to this Saturday’s second meeting of the season between the sides and hopefully ninety minutes that will bring with it some pre Yuletide cheer to all connected with the ‘Loons’ and certainly if the players can show the same grit, determination and no little skill as evidenced in their last home game with Stranraer, there is no reason why not.

Ryan Lee takes charge of a ‘Loons’ league fixture for the third time this season.

C’mon the ‘Loons’

Match Sponsor – Iain Bett

Hospitality Guests – The Bennett Family & Friends, Craig Fotheringham & Friends, Ian Nicoll & Friends, HBB Geosales Ltd.

1984 Lounge Hospitality – Alan Ramsay & Friends

Saturday’s other cinch league2 fixtures;- Elgin City v The Spartans, Peterhead v Clyde, Stenhousemuir v East Fife, Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose