Club 01/08/2014
Match Preview: v Forfar (Home)
Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic Round 1: League Cup Saturday 2nd August 2014 Stark’s Park Kick off: 3.00pm |
Admission Prices:
Adult – £10
Concession* – £5
*Concessions are under 16s, over 65s and jobseekers. Both full time students and jobseeker tickets can only be purchased from the main office at Stark’s Park. Jobseekers must show satisfactory proof of entitlement along with photographic I.D and students must show a valid matriculation card – expired student cards will not be accepted.
Preview:
After monsoon-like conditions at East End Park forced the cancellation of last week’s Fife derby, Raith Rovers season will finally get underway this Saturday, when they welcome Forfar Athletic to Stark’s Park.
Saturday’s League Cup first round tie will be just the fourth time the two clubs have met in cup competitions, with the last coming in 1997, when Raith prevailed 5-0 in the second round of the same tournament.
Their first encounter in a knockout competition was in the first round of 1926-27 Scottish Cup, which Forfar won 4-2. However, the Angus side’s involvement in the cup would be short-lived, as they were eliminated at the next stage 3-0 by Mid-Annandale.
This will be Forfar’s second visit to the Kingdom this season , and Dick Campbell’s side will be hoping to bounce back after they went down 2-1 to East Fife in last weekend’s Petrofac Training Cup tie. Jon McShane and Ewan Moye’s gave East Fife a two-goal lead, and despite Dale Hilson halving the Methil side’s advantage, Gary Naysmith’s men clung on to eliminate their League One opponents.
Ex-Dundee United forward Hilson is amongst a number of new-recruits who have signed up at Station Park this season, with Dick Campbell concentrating predominantly on bolstering his midfield options. To that end, he’s recruited former Livingston man Danny Denholm, as well as Stephen Husband from Dunfermline. The experienced Derek Young has also signed up, after leaving Queen of the South at the end of last season.
Forfar’s last win at Stark’s Park was a 2-0 Second Division victory nine years ago, but the two teams recent head-to-head couldn’t be any tighter, with four wins and two draws each.
Saturday’s match referee will be Brian Colvin.
Head-to-Head Cup Record:
Raith Rovers wins: 2 | Forfar Athletic wins: 1 | Draws: 0
Raith Rovers goals: 9 | Forfar Athletic goals: 5
Match Odds:
Raith Rovers: 1/2 | Forfar Athletic: 5/1 | Draw: 3/1