SPFL 2: Forfar v Spartans Preview

Posted on Friday, February 2nd, 2024

Fresh from their midweek victory on the road at East Fife, Douglas Samuel’s side are on their travels once again, this time to Forfar as the season races into the second half of an eventful debut SPFL 2 campaign.

Blair Henderson’s hat-trick at Bayview helped leapfrog Spartans over Dumbarton back into third spot whilst extending their gap over fifth place East Fife to eleven points.

A packed five fixture February begins on Saturday at Station Park, with Forfar Athletic first up.   

This is the third encounter between the sides in the league this season.  Back in September at Station Park, it finished all square in an exciting 2-2 draw.  Jacques Heraghty was called upon to replace Blair Carswell midway through the first half and his first involvement was to pick the ball out of the net from Seb Ross strike.  Spartans equalised shortly after following a free-kick hotly disputed by the hosts which was finally sent home by the scissor-kicking Mikey Allan.

Blair Henderson lobbed the keeper to put Spartans in front before the break however shortly after it, the Loons equalised to earn a share of the spoils.

Last time out, the sunshine of Station Park was swapped for the foul conditions at Ainslie Park and it was Spartans who were to reign in the rain.  It was a final game in Spartans colours for Mikey Allan and it was a victorious one following Blair Henderson’s winner.

Both sides welcomed Edinburgh’s Premiership clubs to their home patches in the Scottish Cup last month and offered good accounts of themselves in their respective performances.  These were also followed by draws in the subsequent league encounters, Spartans drawing 1-1 with Clyde whilst Forfar and Bonnyrigg also shared the points but no goals.

Looking across the last five outings for both sides, it’s almost a similar pictured painted with Forfar picking up a pair of wins and draws with one defeat to Stenhousemuir.  A loss to the same opponent blots an undefeated Spartans copybook however it features three clean sheet victories over Stranraer, Peterhead and East Fife

There’s a sea of players likely to feature in the game who have pulled on the jerseys for both clubs. James Craigen and Danny Denholm both in the Spartans squad whilst Finn Robson and of course Mark Whatley regular features in the Loons side.

Making his first bus trip with his new team will be Robbie Thompson who joined earlier this week on loan from Inverness Caley Thistle.

For the Fans:

Kick-off 3pm.  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.

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop both situated within the ground will be open as usual.

The 1984 Lounge will be open to all supporters from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and again on the final whistle till approximately 8p.m.

Also playing in SPFL 2: Bonnyrigg Rose v Stranraer, Clyde v Peterhead, Elgin City v East Fife, Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton