Arbroath 2 – 4 Queen of the South – Match Summary
Ladbrokes Championship – Game 19 – Season 2020 / 2021
Saturday 6th March 2021, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, 3.00pm kick off
Match Sponsor – Gammies Groundcare
GoPro behind the goals
The Championship match of the day seen the two form sides go head-to-head but despite an amazing opening, it was Queen of the South who left Gayfield today with all 3 points as they join Dunfermline Athletic and Raith Rovers in joint 2nd.
Conditions were near perfect, and for once the Gayfield wind had eased off with a sunny spring yet chilly afternoon for both teams.
Arbroath kept to the same team which defeated Ayr United a week earlier with the visitors welcoming back their top striker Connor Shields and giving a debut to Ciaran Dickson who had signed a day earlier on loan from Rangers.
It was Queen of the South who had the first effort on goal with Rhys McCabe forcing Derek Gaston into his first save of the match after just 3 minutes.
At the other just 60 seconds later Ben Williamson did brilliantly well to get to the byline and put in a cross which Michael McKenna raced onto and his header was just tipped over the bar by Rohan Ferguson.
In the 10th minute Scott Stewart was fouled by James Maxwell just outside of the box. Bobby Linn took the ball and his perfectly struck curling free kick hit off the cross bar and down into the goal before bouncing back out, with confusion if it was a goal or not play raged on and Jack Hamilton was quickest to react and he raced in to push the ball into the back of the net.
We will have to wait for the GoPro View to see whose goal it really was!
Bobby Linn picked up a booking in the 19th minute for a foul on Isaiah Jones. To say it was harsh would be putting it mildly, it was Linn’s first tackle of the day and hardly a dangerous one.
Arbroath were well on top and keeping Queen of the South in their own half and in the 21st minute Arbroath were awarded a penalty after Euan East fouled Jason Thomson.
It was Arbroath’s first penalty kick since Tuesday 10th December 2019 and just like on that occasion responsibility fell to Michael McKenna who made no mistake to put Arbroath 2-0 up after just 21 minutes.
Queen of the South made a substitute soon after, with Dapo Mebude replacing his Rangers team mate Ciaran Dickson and it would be one that would change the outcome of the game.
Mebude’s pace and directness soon gave Queen of the South a lift and a new outlet going forward and Connor Shields came close in the 31st minute when his shot flew across the Arbroath goal.
Isaiah Jones won a free kick after a foul by Colin Hamilton which also resulted in a yellow card for the Arbroath left back and as Rhys McCabe curled the ball into the Arbroath penalty box, Ayo Obileye was given space and his header flew into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
The game was opening up and Michael McKenna again came close in the 35th minute as his shot flew past the left post.
In the 38th minute Queen of the South equalised. A fast break on the counter by Queen of the South seen Gaston make a fantastic save from Shields and with a melee in the box the ball fell to James Maxwell who found the back of the net to pull his side right back in it.
Queen of the South were full of confidence and Gaston had made saves from Shields, Maxwell and Shields again as Queen of the South rallied towards the end of the first half.
With the game now into first half injury time it was Queen of the South who scored again, just seconds before the whistle blew.
Jones found space down the Queen of the South right and a cross was played into the box which missed everyone but fell to Dapo Mebude at the back post and he had the simple task of tapping the ball over the line.
Half Time – Arbroath 2 – 3 Queen of the South
Half Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 47% – 53% Queen of the South
Total Shots – Arbroath 5 – 8 Queen of the South
On Target – Arbroath 3 – 7 Queen of the South
Corners – Arbroath 2 – 0 Queen of the South
Offside – Arbroath 0 – 1 Queen of the South
Lewis Moore came on for Bobby Linn in the second half as Dick Campbell tried to bring his side back into it whilst also providing cover for Hamilton with the pace of Jones down the right side.
Colin Hamilton was left fuming after a handball wasn’t given in the 49th minute as he shot from distance.
A minute later and Queen of the South scored their 4th goal in an incredible game. A foul on McCabe by Ben Williamson allowed Rhys Breen to get the ball into the box and as the ball fell at the back post somehow Ayo Obileye found the perfect positioning as his shot flew into the postage stamp which was Obileye’s 8th goal of the season.
Queen of the South were dealt a major blow in just 4 minutes later as Jones pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by Aidan Fitzpatrick in the 57th minute.
Lewis Moore had a shot on the turn from the edge of the box which Ferguson did well to get down and save.
Carlo Pignatiello was given his debut in the 60th minute as he replaced Scott Stewart whilst David Gold also replaced goalscorer Michael McKenna in a double substitution.
Fitzpatrick wasted little time in making an impression as he unleashed a volley in the 67th minute which thankfully flew wide.
Jack Hamilton came close in the 68th minute to pulling a goal back in the 68th minute after Pignatiello curled in a superb ball but his header was just over the bar as he ran in at the back post.
Stephen Dobbie replaced Connor Shields as the visitors made their final change in the 75th minute.
Obileye could have netted a hat-trick but his header was wide following a free kick in the 78th minute.
Jack Hamilton found space in the 79th minute but his shot was high and wild as time started to run out for the Lichties.
Ricky Little was booked in the 80th minute as Fitzpatrick ran towards goal and from the resulting free kick Stephen Dobbie left the Arbroath cross bar shaking as his curling free kick came agonisingly close for the veteran striker.
Willie Gibson was booked for throwing the ball over into the stands as he looked to waste more time.
Into the final minutes and Jack Hamilton forced Ferguson into a save in the 87th minute with Lewis Moore having a shot blocked.
Full time – Arbroath 2 – 4 Queen of the South
It wasn’t to be. Arbroath’s amazing run of 8 games undefeated came to an end with their first loss in 2021. It was an incredible start for Arbroath who looked like they had the win sealed up, but Queen of the South have shown tremendous form and character since Christmas as they have marched up the table into joint 2nd place with some really exciting attacking players recruited in January they are sure to continue this fine run with more teams undoubtedly coming undone against them.
For Arbroath, the Queen of the South goals just came at the wrong time and seemed to knock the confidence of the team. The attacking play and beautiful passing of the last 8 matches just wasn’t there for large periods of the second half, but many positives have to be taken from this amazing run.
With 8 games left to play the confidence of this run has to be taken into these final games as we look to secure our place in the Championship for another season. It will be hard, but the team has the quality to make it happen.
C’mon the Lichties
Full Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 50% – 50% Queen of the South
Total Shots – Arbroath 12 – 12 Queen of the South
On Target – Arbroath 5 – 8 Queen of the South
Off Target – Arbroath 5 – 4 Queen of the South
Blocked – Arbroath 2 – 0 Queen of the South
Corners – Arbroath 4 – 3 Queen of the South
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 19 – 9 Queen of the South
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
8 – Michael McKenna (Gold 60)
12 – Scott Stewart (Pignatiello 60)
18 – Ben Williamson
19 – Jack Hamilton
9 – Dale Hilson
11 – Bobby Linn (Moore 45)
Substitutes
6 – Mark Whatley
7 – David Gold – 8; 60th
14 – Kris Doolan
16 – Lewis Moore – 11; 45th
22 – Carlo Pignatiello – 12; 60th
28 – James Craigen
21 – Scott Gallacher (GK)
Goals – Linn 11, McKenna 22 pen
Yellow Cards – Linn 19, Hamilton 32, Little 80
Queen of the South
20 – Rohan Ferguson
33 – Willie Gibson
3 – James Maxwell
5 – Ayo Obileye
19 – Rhys Breen
4 – Gregor Buchanan (c)
26 – Ciaran Dickson (Mebude 26)
16 – Euan East
10 – Connor Shields (Dobbie 75)
12 – Rhys McCabe
25 – Isiah Jones (Fitzpatrick 57)
Substitutes
7 – Aidan Fitzpatrick – 25; 57th
9 – Tommy Goss
11 – Stephen Dobbie – 10; 75th
15 – Calvin McGrory
17 – Niyah Joseph
29 – Dapo Mebude – 26; 26th
31 – Joshua Rae (GK)
Goals – Obileye 33, 50, Maxwell 38, Mebude 45+1
Yellow Card – Gibson 83
Officials:
Referee – Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee 1 – Graeme Leslie
Assistant Referee 2 – Barry Reid
