Beghin says Forfarshire are ‘right up for’ derby

Forfarshire player-coach Graeme Beghin believes his side will have momentum in their favour when they square up to Arbroath in today’s Eastern Premiership derby at Broughty Ferry.

Shire’s title prospects may only be hanging by a thread, but there is no doubting their determination to deal out another dose of misery to their Angus rivals.

Beghin said: “The Arbroath guys know exactly what we are capable of doing.

“We beat them at their place earlier in the season and then we repeated the feat last weekend in the T20 tournament, also at Lochlands.

“But, as is always the case in derby matches, the honours will go to the better team on the day. One thing is certain, we are right up for the challenge.”

Shire are boosted by the return of all-rounder Aman Bailwal and bowler Liam Sweeney, so they send a full-strength squad into battle.

Arbroath skipper Marc Petrie will order his troops not to take their eye off the ball by overconcentrating on keeping the shackles on home captain Craig Wallace, who has been in such destructive form with the bat.

He said: “Craig is one of the hardest-hitting players in the country. However they are far from being a one-man outfit.

“Beghin is the highest run-getter in the league and we must make sure we capture all the big wickets as early as possible.

“It is always a great track and fast outfield at Forthill, so the spectators should be treated to a pile of runs, hopefully with most of them being in our favour.

“We are looking forward to a typically feisty and exciting match.”

Arbroath will be without the injured Brendon Ford and Ryan Cameron, while Calvin Burnett is at a wedding. In come Craig Cameron and Euan Small.

Elsewhere, Glenrothes will fancy their chances of taking the scalp of struggling Aberdeenshire at Gilvenbank.

Falkland will have to dig deep at Scroggie Park to derail secondplaced Carlton.

Pace-setters Watsonians face a tricky trans-capital trip to take on Heriot’s, while anything other than a Grange success at the expense of basement boys Stoneywood-Dyce would be the shock of the season.