Airdrieonians 3 – 0 Arbroath
The Lichties crashed to their 3rd away defeat of the season this afternoon at the Penny Cars Stadium.
Arbroath Manager rung the changes with Darren Hill, Michael McKenna, Luke Donnelly, Greig Spence and Ryan Wallace all coming into the starting 11 with Darren Jamieson, Danny Denholm, Omar Kader, Steven Doris all dropping to the bench with Jason Thomson ruled out due to injury.
With Hill in goal, David Gold filled in at right back next to Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien and Colin Hamilton in defence.
Mark Whatley, Gavin Swankie and Michael McKenna made up the midfield with Ryan Wallace sitting in behind Greig Spence and Luke Donnelly.
Airdrieonians were also forced into several changes due to injury and suspension and as the game did kick off it did have a end of season feel to it.
However Arbroath were passing the ball around well and on top in terms of possession with Ryan Wallace looking the most lively of Arbroath players having at least 4 first half shots blocked.
Yet it was Airdrieonians who opened the scoring in the 39th minute when they broke on the counter leaving Darren Hill to come sliding out for the ball but Dean Hawkshaw managed to pass into the middle where Leighton McIntosh tapped into the empty net.
Airdrieonians should have doubled their lead just 60 seconds later but Declan Glass wasted a wonderful opportunity when he blasted over the bar.
HT – Airdrieonians 1 – 0 Arbroath
Declan Glass started off the second half brightly having a shot blocked before firing wide before Ryan Wallace and Greig Spence both had shots saved by David Hutton.
Again the Lichties were on top in terms of possession but David Hutton really hadn’t been forced into making a good save.
Ryan Wallace was again the Arbroath player who looked most likely to opening the scoring for the Lichties with a header at goal and then a shot wide.
Ryan McCord replaced Michael McKenna after 64 minutes but just 4 minutes later Arbroath were reduced to 10 men.
Dean Hawkshaw was bundled over by Thomas O’Brien and as the last defender Referee David Lowe flashed the red card.
From the free kick Kieran MacDonald smashed the Arbroath bar ball of the Arbroath bar.
Luke Donnelly and Gavin Swankie made way for Steven Doris and Danny Denholm in the 75th minute.
Arbroath lost possession from a throw in and in a repeat of the first goal a cross into the box from Declan Glass was finished by Leighton McIntosh to make it 2-0 after 80 minutes.
Greig Spence did have the ball in the net after he poked in a Ryan Wallace cross come shot but it was ruled out for offside.
Arbroath’s best chance came in the 87th minute when skipper Mark Whatley smashed a long range effort but David Hutton produced a stunning save to deny Whatley’s strike.
Deep into injury time and Sean McIntosh completed the scoring when he hit a low drive past Hill after being set up by Scott Stewart.
FT – Airdrieonians 3 – 0 Arbroath
Thank you to all the Lichties who made the journey!
Airdrieonians;
1 – David Hutton
2 – Jonathan Page
3 – Kieran MacDonald
4 – Sean Crighton (c)
5 – Kieran Miller
6 – Dean Cairns (S. McIntosh 87)
7 – Scott Stewart
8 – Dean Hawkshaw (Conroy 83)
9 – Leighton McIntosh
10 – Declan Glass
11 – Joshua Edwards
Substitutes
12 – Sean McIntosh – 6; 87th
14 – Kyle Wilkie
15 – Ryan Conroy – 8; 83rd
17 – Andrew McNeil
Goals – L. McIntosh 39, 80, S. McIntosh 90+2
Yellow Card – Cairns 70
Arbroath
1 – Darren Hill
2 – Ricky Little
3 – David Gold
4 – Colin Hamilton
5 – Thomas O’Brien
6 – Mark Whatley (c)
7 – Michael McKenna (McCord 64)
8 – Greig Spence
9 – Ryan Wallace
10 – Gavin Swankie (Denholm 75)
11 – Luke Donnelly (Doris 75)
Substitutes
12 – Danny Denholm – 10; 75th
14 – Omar Kader
15 – Ryan McCord – 7; 64th
16 – Steven Doris – 11; 75th
21 – Darren Jamieson (GK)
Red Card – O’Brien 68
Attendance; 590
Referee – David Lowe
Assistant Referee 1 – Craig Ferguson
Assistant Referee 2 – Scott Leslie
