It’s the proverbial six pointer on Saturday afternoon when we face Forfar Athletic at Station Park with a 3 p.m. kick off.

With eight games remaining in Ladbrokes League 1 the Loons sit just two points behind us in the table following their 1-1 draw at Airdrie on Tuesday night.

 

The previous three meetings between the sides this season have seen us win twice although the last meeting just a few weeks ago saw us go down 4-1 at Central Park.

When the Loons visited Central Park for the first meeting on 12th September things were looking rosy for them leading the table and manager Dick Campbell had just won the Manager of the Month award for August.

 

Goals by Gordon Smith and Greig Spence, either side of Gavin Swankie’s equaliser, gave us a 2-1 win which sparked off a 17 game winless run in the league for the Station Park side.

The return game at Station Park in mid December saw Spence once again on target in a 1-0 win which brought Campbell’s seven and a half year reign at Forfar come to an end a few hours after the match.

 

Gary Bollan took over a few weeks later, ironically a day after his Airdrie side had lost 3-0 at Central Park, and after a slow start got his first win as Loons boss at Central Park bringing their long winless run to an end where it begun.

Things had started brightly enough for us with Dean Brett opening the scoring but the sending off of Kieran Gibbons eight minutes from the break was the turning point of the night.

 

Andy Ryan levelled from the penalty spot after Gibbons had been judged to have fouled Thomas O’Brien and minutes later Gavin Rodger headed the Loons in front with Steven Craig and Kerr Hay adding to the score sheet in the second half.

 

Dean Brett misses the game due to suspension as does former Central Parker Martyn Fotheringham.

 

New signing Craig Sives, on loan from Livingston, goes straight into the squad.

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Mr Gavin Duncan ASSISTANT REFEREE’S:  Mr Ralph Gordon & Mr Garry Doherty.

 

COWDEN AWAY FORM

Our last away day saw a 4-1 defeat at Ayr which had been preceded by a 3-2 win at Stenhousemuir. Two of our three wins on the road this season have come on synthetic surfaces which could be an omen!

COWDEN AWAY LEAGUE RECORD

Pld 14 W 3 D 1 L 10 F 17 A 42 Pts 10

FORFAR HOME FORM 

The Loons have been unbeaten in their last two fixtures at Station Park beating Albion Rovers 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Stranraer.

Their last defeat at Station Park was their William Hill Scottish Cup exit against Linlithgow Rose in late January, having also lost 1-0 to Stenhousemuir a few days previously in the league.

FORFAR HOME LEAGUE RECORD

Pld 13 W 3 D 2 L8 F 17 A 22 Pts 11

 

ADMISSION

ADULTS - £13 (stand) £12 (terracing)

CONCESSIONS - £7 (stand) £6 (terracing)

PROGRAMME - £2

 

The 1984 Lounge at the west of the stand is open before and after the match with visiting supporters welcome.

 

Previewer: Andrew Mullen.