Arbroath overcame Ladbrokes League 2 side Berwick Rangers on Saturday to progress to the 4th round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Manager Dick Campbell had emphasised that all games at this level are a potential custard pie waiting to happen and as many senior teams fell at the 3rd round he will be happy with his sides performance and result.
The Lichties put the Berwick Rangers defence under pressure throughout the match and started in the best possible fashion when skipper Mark Whatley forced on-loan Rangers goalkeeper Robbie cCrorieinto a diving save after only 60 seconds.
Patient in their build up play the Lichties held onto the ball retaining possession until they could find a route to goal. It seemed like a Thomas O’Brien header was destined for the net in the 14th minute but it struck off one of his own team mates and was cleared as the Lichties continued to pile on the pressure.
There was slight confusion when the opening goal did come for as who had scored it, but it was decided by Referee Stephen Finnie that Colin Hamilton nodded in a Mark Whatley strike to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Ryan McCord struck the post 9 minutes later as Arbroath pushed for their second.
In the 34th minute Leighton McIntosh came on to replace Thomas O’Brien who was suffering from back muscle pain and the striker making his second Arbroath debut made an instant impact as he picked up the ball before nutmegging a defender and slotting into the net off the post in the 36th minute.
Arbroath kept up the pressure in the second half with Arbroath keeper David Hutton having a very quiet afternoon. Omar Kader had a fantastic chance in the first minute of the second half but McCrorie made a good save.
The game was over when McIntosh latched on to a beautiful through ball from Bobby Linn with the former Dundee striker sliding ball through the legs of McCrorie. Mark Whatley, Ryan McCord, Danny Denholm all came close in the final 20 minutes with McIntosh also coming inches away from claiming a hat-trick.
Berwick Rangers rallied in the final 10 minutes but it was too late and Arbroath progress into Monday’s 4th round draw.
C’mon the Lichties
Arbroath
1 – David Hutton
2 – Ricky Little
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Thomas O’Brien (McIntosh 34)
5 – Blair Yule
6 – Mark Whatley (c)
7 – Omar Kader (Gold 69)
8 – Scott Martin
9 – Ryan McCord (Prunty 75)
10 – Danny Denholm
11 – Bobby Linn
Substitutes
12 – Kane Hester
14 – David Gold – 7; 69th
15 – Bryan Prunty – 9; 75th
16 – Jamie Henry
17 – Leighton McIntosh – 4; 34th
21 – Ricky Gomes (GK)
Yellow Card – Kader 67
Goals – Hamilton 16, McIntosh 36, 70
Attendance: 536
Referee – Stephen Finnie
Assistant Referee 1 – Ross Haswell
Assistant Referee 2 – Michael Addy
