MATCH PREVIEW – ANNAN ATHLETIC (H)

It’s the start of three successive home games as we welcome Annan Athletic to Central Park with a 3pm kick off. It will be a poignant occasion as we pay tribute to Zoe Smith with a minute’s silence in her memory after her sad passing last weekend.

This will be Annan’s first visit to Central Park since January 2020 as last season’s home game was played at Bayview Stadium after flood damage at Central Park.

Manager Peter Murphy is now the longest serving manager in League Two having being appointed in June 2017, only Jim McInally (Peterhead), Dick Campbell (Arbroath) and Stewart Petrie (Montrose) have been in their positions longer in the entire SPFL.

After a disappointing campaign last season Murphy has signed ten new players. Kyle Fleming who had been on loan from Dundee made a permanent move to Galabank. Also arriving were Tommy Goss (Queen of the South), Dom Docherty (Stirling Albion), Rob McCartney (Carlisle City), Ryan Adamson (Bo’ness United), Chris Johnston (Clyde), Greg Fleming (Stranraer) and a trio of players from his former club Carlisle United – Roan Steele, Charlie Barnes and Charlie Birch.

Players leaving from last season were Mark Docherty and Aaron Splaine (Clyde), Max Wright (Albion Rovers), Nathan Flanaghan (Stirling Albion), Alex Mitchell (Blyth Spartans), Ryan Sinnamon (Broomhill), Tyler Fulton (East Stirlingshire), Russell Currie and Harry Emmerson (Dalbeatie Star). Loan players returning to their parent clubs were Brian Kinnear (Rangers), Ross Munro (Ross County), Alex McCaw (St Mirren), Ross Love (Ayr United), Dean Watson (Partick Thistle) and Darren Christie (Pollok) who moved to Stenhousemuir and scored against us last Saturday.

The Premier Sports Cup saw Annan finish bottom of Group F with two points which came from the opening match at Airdrie. Following a 1-1 draw, where a Tony Wallace opener from the penalty spot was cancelled out by a last minute goal from Matthew McDonald, Annan won the bonus point in the penalty shoot out which they won 5-4.

A home derby game with Queen of the South then followed with Kyle Fleming scoring in a 3-1 defeat with Ruari Paton and Ally Roy with a brace getting the Queen’s goals. It was then another home game with a visit from the other Queen’s – Queen’s Park who ran out 2-1 winners with Steven Swinglehurt putting through his own net and Jake Davidson doing likewise at the other end before Simon Murray grabbed the winner. The group then concluded with a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell with Justin Amaluzor and Barry Maguire scoring for the Steelmen.

The SPFL Trust Trophy campaign proved to be a short one with a 2-0 defeat from Celtic B at the Penny Cars Stadium with Lee O’Connor and Scott Robertson scoring for the young Celts.

The League Two season opened with a 2-0 home defeat from relegated Forfar Athletic with Stefan McCluskey and Scott Shepherd scoring in the first half for the Loons. The next three games however have seen three straight wins. The first came in the visit to Stranraer where Chris Johnston, Aidan Smith and Owen Moxon getting the goals. The following Saturday saw a home win over Stirling Albion with Johnston on target again along with Iain Anderson and Tommy Goss, with Kurtis Roberts pulling a goal back for the Binos.

Last Saturday an Anderson goal proved to be enough to beat Albion Rovers 1-0 at Cliftonhill to keep in touch with league leaders Kelty Hearts.


MATCH SPONSOR – The Cowden Community In Memory of Zoe Smith.

MATCH BALL SPONSOR – In Respectful Memory of Zoe Smith.



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Barry Cook

Barry takes charge of his first Cowden game of the season. Last Saturday he was in charge of the Stranraer v Stirling Albion game which saw the visitors win 3-0.

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Jonathan Bell & Brent Falconer


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.



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.