MATCH PREVIEW - PETERHEAD (A)

A year which opened with a home game with Berwick ends with a long distance trip to Balmoor Stadium on Saturday as we face Peterhead with a 3pm kick off.

It has been mostly a year that the Cowden faithful will want to put behind them and look forward to 2018 although we have closed the 12 months with a new felt optimism as new manager Gary Bollan has started his Central Park career with a three game unbeaten run.

It is still early steps but after a run of six successive league and cup defeats the draws with Annan, Edinburgh City and Stenhousemuir on Tuesday have been more than welcome.

Peterhead, back in League Two this season after losing the play off final to Gary Bollan's old side Forfar last season, were made the pre season favourites with the bookmakers and currently sit in second place six points behind leaders Montrose although they have played two games less than the Gable Endies.

The previous meeting of the sides at Central Park in September saw a comfortable 4-0 win for the Blue Toon who scored three goals in the opening 22 minutes with Allan Smith hitting a brace along with Willie Gibson and Scott Brown.

Our last visit to Balmoor was for a League One game back in March 2016 when a first half goal from Greig Spence gave us a 1-0 win.

David Syme is once again eligible for selection after finally completing his suspension in midweek.

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Mike Roncone ASSISTANT REFEREE'S: Stuart Stevenson & Alan Proctor.

ADMISSION

ADULTS - £14 (stand) £12 (terracing).

CONCESSIONS - £8 (stand) £6 (terracing).

Under 12s - Free if accompanied by an adult.

Previewer: Andrew Mullen.