Arbroath 1 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Arbroath got back to winning ways today, and whilst it wasn’t a performance to remember it is detriment to their desire and resolute that it was yet another win at Gayfield and the 14th clean sheet in 28 games.
With only one change in the starting line up David Gold came in for the illegible Craig Wighton with Michael McKenna being allowed to play in his most dangerous role as a floating number 10 behind Jack Hamilton.
As Dunfermline Athletic fight for their Championship life, they made a bright start with Steven Lawless getting in behind the defence to cross after just 30 seconds.
The Pars really should have taken then lead just minutes later as in the 6th minute Ryan Dow was denied by Derek Gaston with Ricky Little denying Graham Dorran’s on the follow up.
With so much riding on the game for both sides it was Arbroath who took first blood as a clever flick by Michael McKenna played in Jack Hamilton down the left wing in the 9th minute. His low ball into the box was met by David Gold who surged in to the middle and calmly slotted the ball low into the net to give Arbroath the early lead.
Whilst Arbroath had taken the lead it was Dunfermline who was passing the ball around and Ryan Dow and Steven Lawless in particular were looking dangerous every time they got on the ball.
Bobby Linn was left out on the right wing as he and both Jack Hamilton were kept out of the game seeing very little of the ball.
Steven Lawless was denied by the right post as he beat the Arbroath offside trap in the 39th minute and his shot under pressure from Colin Hamilton and Derek Gaston clipped the right post and out for a throw in.
Dunfermline were getting closer and just before half time Dow managed to turn David Gold near the corner flag and cross from the left with Kevin O’Hara hitting the volley first time but just narrowly wide of the post.
Half Time – Arbroath 1 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Half Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 47% – 53% Dunfermline Athletic
Total Shots – Arbroath 3 – 5 Dunfermline Athletic
On Target – Arbroath 3 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Off Target – Arbroath 0 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Blocked – Arbroath 0 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Corners – Arbroath 2 – 1 Dunfermline Athletic
Saves – Arbroath 3 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 6 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Jason Thomson replaced Bobby Linn at the break with Thomson sliding in at right back allowing Scott Stewart to roam forward.
A free kick by Michael McKenna after a foul on Chris Hamilton allowed Ricky Little to rise up and meet the ball but his header was over the bar.
The Pars brought on Dom Thomas for Aaron Comrie in the 63rd minute as they pushed for a goal, but it was Arbroath who came close minutes later as a Stewart volley just curled away from the goal.
Michael McKenna was through on goals just seconds later but a combination of a mis-kick and a block snuffed out the danger.
James Craigen replaced goal scorer David Gold in the 79th minute as fresh legs were needed in midfield.
A beautiful ball from Lawless found O’Hara in the box, but both Jason Thomson and Derek Gaston were there and Gaston denied O’Hara from close range in the 73rd minute. Dale Hilson came on for Liam Henderson just after that for Arbroath’s 3rd change.
In the 77th minute Stewart looked all set to pull the trigger and score Arbroath’s second goal as he broke free in the box but a stunning tackle from Josh Edwards denied the Arbroath winger.
Luke Donnelly came on for Jack Hamilton in the 85th minute, 2 minutes after Dunfermline had made 4 changes at once with Eye Ambrose, RyanD Dow, Graham Dorrans and Dan Pybus coming off with Lewis Martin, Rhys Been, Liam Polworth and Lewis McCann entering play.
Ricky Little was back to his heroics with a clearance off the line in the 88th minute.
As the game entered injury time there was almost an equaliser for Dunfermline Athletic. A great cross in from the left by Lewis McCann was met by Lawless but his header seemed to hit the bar, then come back down off the post and out for a goal kick.
Full Time – Arbroath 1 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Full Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 44% – 56% Dunfermline Athletic
Total Shots – Arbroath 8 – 6 Dunfermline Athletic
On Target – Arbroath 4 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Off Target – Arbroath 4 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Blocked – Arbroath 0 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Corners – Arbroath 3 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Saves – Arbroath 3 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 13 – 9 Dunfermline Athletic
A huge win for the Lichties as we get back to winning ways. With Kilmarnock winning it remains the same at the top. Only 8 games to play with a 1 point lead. NOBODY would have ever believed that at the start of the season, but we are there on merit and consistently produce determined results.
See you in Inverness!
C’mon the Lichties
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
12 – Scott Stewart
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
22 – Liam Henderson (Hilson 75)
18 – Chris Hamilton
7 – David Gold (Craigen 69)
8 – Michael McKenna
20 – Jack Hamilton (Donnelly 85)
11 – Bobby Linn (Thomson 45)
Substitutes
2 – Jason Thomson – 11; 45th
6 – Nicky Low
9 – Dale Hilson – 22; 75th
15 – Luke Donnelly – 20; 85th
16 – Sam Ford
17 – Michael Bakare
28 – James Craigen – 7; 69th
21 – Calum Antell (GK)
Goal – Gold 9
Yellow Cards – O’Brien 73, McKenna 87
Dunfermline Athletic
41 – Jakub Stolarczyk
2 – Aaron Comrie (Thomas 63)
5 – Coll Donaldson
25 – Efe Ambrose (Martin 83)
3 – Josh Edwards
16 – Dan Pybus (Polworth 83)
8 – Joe Chalmers
21 – Steven Lawless
17 – Graham Dorrans (c) (Breen 83)
11 – Ryan Dow (McCann 83)
7 – Kevin O’Hara
Substitutes
4 – Lewis Martin – 25; 83rd
10 – Nikolay Todorov
12 – Rhys Breen – 17; 83rd
14 – Lewis McCann 11; 83rd
15 – Paul Allan
23 – Dom Thomas – 2; 63rd
26 – Matty Todd
39 – Liam Polworth 16; 83rd
20 – Neil Alexander (GK)
Yellow Card – Pybus 29
Officials
Referee; Chris Graham
Assistant Referee 1; Paul O’Neill
Assistant Referee 2; Gordon McCabe
Attendance – 2421
