MATCH PREVIEW: Ross County Colts v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ make the long and costly trip north to Dingwall on Tuesday to meet Ross County’s Under 20 side in the first round of the Irn Bru Cup.

This is the second season running that the Station Park men have met a Premiership colts side at this stage of the tournament, Aberdeen the opponents last time round at Pitmedden, the Athies winning comfortably on that occasion.

At least this time round our opponents have had the good grace to stage the game at their own ground, the well appointed Global Energy Stadium.

Manager Gary Bollan is likely to freshen up his starting line-up for the fixture with a couple of players having picked up minor knocks in the defeat at Ayr on Saturday.

It will therefore be no surprise if Andy Munro, Scott McBride, Ousman See and Matthew Aitken are not all given the opportunity from the off against the Dingwall youngsters.

In a change of format this season the colts sides can include two over age players so no doubt County will give a run out to a couple of their first team bench from Saturday past.

The ‘Staggies’ in fact won the SPFL Development League last season, but a few of the pool are now over age or have moved on and to be frank the actual starting eleven will be a bit of a mystery to the Forfar management team.

It will nevertheless be an interesting tussle as both sides strive for a place in the second round draw.

Highland League official Billy Baxter is the man in the middle.

The kick-off is at 7.30p.m. and admission charges are £5 with Under 18’s admitted free.

Extra time and penalties can come into the equation.