The Wanderers take on Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park on Saturday, knowing a point will guarantee promotion and a win will keep alive their title chances.
Three points will put Forth top on 41 points and awaiting the outcome of the Burgh v Carluke match, which is still to be scheduled, to decide the destination of the title.
The teams met at Kingshill back in September, when a Kenny Wright hat-trick and a single from Tony Traynor gave the Wanderers a comfortable victory.
The Burgh currently sit 7th on 23 points with 5 games to play, meaning they can match the Wanderers total of 38 points with 5 straight wins. However, they'd also have to engineer an 18 goal swing to wrest the final promotion spot from Forth.
Confidence can be gained from a look at the Wanderers away league form where, after an opening day defeat at St. Roch's, Forth have won all eight subsequent away matches keeping five clean sheets in the process. (Including the scratched Stonehouse match would make this 9 away wins and 6 clean sheets.)
With a bus leaving from the village, a decent Forth support is expected, to hopefully cheer on the Wanderers to victory in their biggest match for over a decade.
'Mon the Forth
McBookie Odds :
Johnstone Burgh : 21/10
Draw : 18/5
Forth : 7/10
Rossvale Juniors 0 Forth Wanderers 3
Goals from Kris Jarvie, manager Jamie McKenzie and Tony Traynor gave the Wanderers a comfortable 3-0 victory over Rossvale at Petershill Park yesterday.
Forth started the game brightly and Tony Traynor blasted over in the first minute after a good passing move. The same player went even closer on 3 minutes when he rattled the home keepers left hand post. Rossvale had their first chance on 4 minutes when a cross was headed over but the Wanderers were dominating the early exchanges and Traynor went close again when he forced the keeper into a decent save on 9 minutes.
The opening goal was merely delayed however as Forth scored from their next attack. Kenny Wright scampered down the left wing and his pinpoint cross found the head of KRIS JARVIE who made no mistake from 8 yards.
Just the start the Wanderers were looking for, although as the half wore on Rossvale were more prominent and created a few half chances, none of which found the target. Forth, with manager Jamie McKenzie dictating the play from midfield, were looking for a second goal to give them some breathing space and came close on 42 minutes. Kenny Wright beat the offside trap and raced in on goal but the 'Vale keeper blocked the strikers shot with his legs and Kris Jarvie fired the rebound wide to keep the score 1-0 at half time.
Forth came flying out of the blocks in the second half and had effectively wrapped up the points after 51 minutes with two quick goals. Firstly JAMIE McKENZIE smashed home a 30 yard free kick just after the restart which gave the keeper no chance and then TONY TRAYNOR latched on to a fine through ball and coolly slotted home from 10 yards.
Chic Clark was called into action as Rossvale looked for a way back into the game but was equal to whatever the home side threw at him. Forth created another couple of chances as the second half progressed, Kenny Wright being unlucky not to score before Wright was given a straight red card for swearing at the referee. Now down to 10 men, Forth were content to see the game out which they did to record a comfortable victory.
Now it's on to Keanie Park next Saturday to face Johnstone Burgh, knowing a victory will guarantee promotion.
'Mon the Forth
Forth team : Clark,Napier,Harty,McKinlay,Grant,Canning,Traynor,McGroarty,Jarvie(Felvus),
McKenzie(Crawford),Wright
Forth started the game brightly and Tony Traynor blasted over in the first minute after a good passing move. The same player went even closer on 3 minutes when he rattled the home keepers left hand post. Rossvale had their first chance on 4 minutes when a cross was headed over but the Wanderers were dominating the early exchanges and Traynor went close again when he forced the keeper into a decent save on 9 minutes.
The opening goal was merely delayed however as Forth scored from their next attack. Kenny Wright scampered down the left wing and his pinpoint cross found the head of KRIS JARVIE who made no mistake from 8 yards.
Just the start the Wanderers were looking for, although as the half wore on Rossvale were more prominent and created a few half chances, none of which found the target. Forth, with manager Jamie McKenzie dictating the play from midfield, were looking for a second goal to give them some breathing space and came close on 42 minutes. Kenny Wright beat the offside trap and raced in on goal but the 'Vale keeper blocked the strikers shot with his legs and Kris Jarvie fired the rebound wide to keep the score 1-0 at half time.
Forth came flying out of the blocks in the second half and had effectively wrapped up the points after 51 minutes with two quick goals. Firstly JAMIE McKENZIE smashed home a 30 yard free kick just after the restart which gave the keeper no chance and then TONY TRAYNOR latched on to a fine through ball and coolly slotted home from 10 yards.
Chic Clark was called into action as Rossvale looked for a way back into the game but was equal to whatever the home side threw at him. Forth created another couple of chances as the second half progressed, Kenny Wright being unlucky not to score before Wright was given a straight red card for swearing at the referee. Now down to 10 men, Forth were content to see the game out which they did to record a comfortable victory.
Now it's on to Keanie Park next Saturday to face Johnstone Burgh, knowing a victory will guarantee promotion.
'Mon the Forth
Forth team : Clark,Napier,Harty,McKinlay,Grant,Canning,Traynor,McGroarty,Jarvie(Felvus),
McKenzie(Crawford),Wright
Rossvale Preview
The Wanderers take on Rossvale tomorrow at Petershill Park, Springburn kick off 2pm.
Forth will be well aware of the danger posed by the league newcomers after coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 a fortnight ago. On that occasion, Rossvale showed their ability to hit teams on the break with two well taken goals and only a somewhat fortuitous penalty award allowed the Wanderers to get back into it, Kris Jarvie converting. A Chris McGroarty strike levelled the scores with 18 minutes to go but despite almost constant Forth pressure Rossvale held out for a point.
A win tomorrow is essential to keep the Wanderers promotion hopes alive and manager Jamie McKenzie has a full squad available.
McBookie Odds :
Rossvale : 16/5
Draw : 15/4
Forth : 40/85
Forth will be well aware of the danger posed by the league newcomers after coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 a fortnight ago. On that occasion, Rossvale showed their ability to hit teams on the break with two well taken goals and only a somewhat fortuitous penalty award allowed the Wanderers to get back into it, Kris Jarvie converting. A Chris McGroarty strike levelled the scores with 18 minutes to go but despite almost constant Forth pressure Rossvale held out for a point.
A win tomorrow is essential to keep the Wanderers promotion hopes alive and manager Jamie McKenzie has a full squad available.
McBookie Odds :
Rossvale : 16/5
Draw : 15/4
Forth : 40/85
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 3 Forth Wanderers 2
Another entertaining friendly against the Roy which again ended with the Wanderers losing by the odd goal in five. Forth played some excellent passing football, especially in the first half, orchestrated by the trialist number 10. He opened the scoring with a sweet 22 yard strike midway through the first half and although Rob Roy scored twice to lead 2-1, a pile driver from Bryan Felvus levelled the scores just prior to half time. The home side regained the lead early in the second half and although both teams had further chances as the gloom and rain descended, that was the end of the scoring.
'Mon the Forth
'Mon the Forth
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