MATCH PREVIEW – FORFAR ATHLETIC (H)

It's match day seven in the Cinch League Two as we welcome Forfar Athletic to Central Park for the first time since April 2017. Robbie Buchanan gave us a half time lead that afternoon and after Shaun Rutherford was sent off early in the second half Danny Denholm got an equaliser for the Loons.

Manager Stuart Malcom left Station Park towards the end of last season with Gary Irvine who returned from Glencairn taking over as player/manager. Players leaving the club were Roberto Nditi (Queen of the South), Jordan Allan (Airdrieonians) Chris Antoniazzi (Montrose, loan to permanent), Daniel Hoban (Elgin City), Daniel Scally (Stirling Albion), Bernard Coll (Stenhousemuir), Martin Scott, (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Graeme Holmes, (Cumbernauld Colts), Hamish Thomson (Tranent but now with Brechin City), Kyle Dalling (Huntly), Murray MacKintosh (Brechin City); Mark Hill and Scott Fenwick.
Returning to their parent clubs on loan were Jordan Northcroft (St Johnstone), Callum Moore (Dundee) and Michael Anderson (BSC Glasgow).

New players arriving at Station Park were Matthew Aitken (Albion Rovers), PJ Crossan (Dumbarton), Craig Slater (Queen’s Park), Craig Thomson (Airdrieonians), Stefan McCluskey (Dumbarton), Yusuf Hussain (Motherwell), Lewis Sanderson (Cumbernauld United). Players in on loan are Mark Gallagher (Aberdeen), Sam Fisher, Luke Strachan and Jamie Ness (all Dundee).

In the Premier Sports Cup the Loons finished as runner up to Dundee in Group C with eight points. Their opening game was postponed due to covid issues at Ross County with the Loons awarded a 3-0 which has been their highest of the season. They finally got underway with a home goal less draw with Montrose with them winning the penalty shoot out 5-4. Mark Gallagher then got the only goal after the long trip to Brora before they bowed out 5-2 to Dundee at Dens Park. Charlie Adam, Corey Panter, Chris Elliot and a brace from Jason Cummings got the Dee goals with Stefan McCluskey and Grant Anderson replying for the Loons.

The League Two campaign opened with a 2-0 win at Annan with McCluskey and Grant Anderson getting the goals. This was followed up by a similar score at home to Edinburgh City with McCluskey and Scott Shepherd on target. Three draws were to follow first a 2-2 at home to Kelty Hearts with Matthew Aitken and Craig Thomson twice putting the Loons ahead with Nathan Austin equalising on each occasion.

At Elgin McCluskey was once again on target but his first half opener was cancelled out by Conor O’Keefe. Once again they failed to hold onto a lead after Craig Slater had opened the scoring at home to Stranraer with Darryl Duffy levelling for the Blues. Last Saturday they sufferd their first league defeat of the season with Dylan Bikey getting the only goal of the afternoon for Stirling Albion at Forthbank.

In the SPFL Trust Trophy they beat Formartine United 1-0 at Station Park with Matthew Aitken getting the goal before they bowed out 1-0 to Raith Rovers at Starks Park with Blaise Riley-Snow getting the Rovers goal.


MATCH SPONSOR – MARK TURNER & BEN GATHERCOLE OF COTGRAVE

MATCH BALL SPONSOR – IN MEMORY OF EX PROVOST JOHN SIMPSON



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Iain Snedden

Iain makes his first appearance of the season in one of our matches.

ASSISTANT REFEREES – David Roome and Simon Maclean


ADMISSION

Adults - £14 | Concessions - £8 | Season tickets are valid for this game.

You can buy your ticket in advance here.

LIVE STREAM

Can’t make it to Central Park? Blue Brazil TV is streaming the match live for the cost of £11. Buy your stream here. Please note, the stream is not available to viewers in England.

Commentator this week is Colin Nelson who is joined by The Flamingo - Lewis Coult.



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.