Arbroath vs Darvel – Match Report
A hat-trick by on-loan Livingston striker Jack Hamilton killed off any potential cup shock at Gayfield this afternoon as Arbroath progressed into the 5th round of the Scottish Cup.
Championship leaders Arbroath showed the highest respect they could to Darvel by playing their strongest line up, the only absentee was the influential Nicky Low who was replaced in the starting line up by top scorer Michael McKenna, whilst Craig Wighton came in for Luke Donnelly.
Conditions were near perfect as the howling gale associated with Gayfield was uncharacteristically missing, but instead the weather was mild and dry on a sunny January afternoon.
Arbroath kicked off attacking towards their own fans, but it was Darvel who had the first half chance as Darren Miller fired over from 10 yards after just 3 minutes.
Arbroath’s first half chance when a Michael McKenna corner kick in the 12th minute was swung directly at goal with Darvel keeper Chris Truesdale having to be alert on his goal line.
Arbroath were pressing high as Darvel wanted to pass the ball out from the back but were almost caught when Liam Henderson fired wide in the 17th minute before Jack Hamilton headed wide from a McKenna corner seconds later.
Derek Gaston survived a scare in the 19th minute when his clearance bounced off the on-rushing Scott Ferguson who suffered a blow taking the flu brunt of the ball to his chest.
Michael McKenna was close to adding to his impressive season tally in the 24th minute but his curling shot from 18 yards was just over the bar.
Jack Hamilton opened the scoring in the 28th minute, as he latched onto a beautiful pass from Craig Wighton who spotted Hamilton’s run and hit the ball with the outside of his foot. Hamilton turned his defender before showing great composure to curl the ball into the net from 8 yards to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Arbroath robbed Darvel of possession in the 36th minute with McKenna finding Jack Hamilton but his shot was just wide.
Just before half time Michael McKenna gave Arbroath a scare as he received treatment after taking a heavy knock to this ankle.
As the second half got underway Arbroath showed their intent as the won a corner within the first 30 seconds. Whilst Arbroath continued to press Darvel were always in the game and were quick to break when they won possession.
Striker Alan MacKenzie replaced David Galt in the 55th minute as Darvel tried to find a way back into the game. Darren Miller who was the stand out player for Darvel and he pulled a shot just wide in the 63rd minute.
Bobby Linn was introduced in the 68th minute for Scott Stewart and he proved to be the player to unlock the Darvel defence. Linn controlled the ball with his first touch of the game before picking out Jack Hamilton whose diving header found the back of the net to double Arbroath’s lead.
Dick Campbell sent on Luke Donnelly and James Craigen on for Craig Wighton and Liam Henderson 3 minutes later and it was again the substitutes who would impress as Craigen showed great skill to beat two players in the 78th minute but his shot from 12 yards was saved by Truesdale.
With only a minute remaining Darvel had their best chance of the match when a foul by Thomas O’Brien gave the Ayrshire club a free kick on the edge of the box. The impressive Darren Miller took responsibility but his shot was just wide of the left hand post.
Arbroath know how to punish teams and Bobby Linn picked up the ball on the half way line, he found Luke Donnelly in space and his cross from the left wing was met by Jack Hamilton at the back post who found the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick.
A professional performance from Arbroath who progress to the 5th round of the Scottish Cup, but credit to Darvel who never gave up and put in proud performance which their large traveling support recognised at the full time whistle.
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
18 – Chris Hamilton
12 – Scott Stewart (Linn 68)
8 – Michael McKenna
19 – Craig Wighton (Donnelly 71)
20 – Jack Hamilton
22 – Liam Henderson (Craigen 71)
Substitutes
9 – Dale Hilson
10 – Gavin Swankie
11 – Bobby Linn – 12; 68th
14 – Dylan Paterson
15 – Luke Donnelly – 19; 71st
28 – James Craigen – 22; 71st
21 – Calum Antell (GK)
Goals – Jack Hamilton 26, 68, 90
Yellow Card – Little 3
Darvel
1 – Chris Truesdale
5 – Daryll Meggatt (c)
11 – Ryan Thomson
19 – Creag Little
6 – Ian McShane
18 – Harry Monaghan (Kirkpatrick 68)
7 – Darren Miller
8 – Andy Stirling
15 – David Galt (MacKenzie 55)
17 – Scott Ferguson (Caldwell 68)
3 – Jordan Allan
Substitutes
20 – Ross Caldwell – 17; 68th
10 – Jordan Kirkpatrick – 18; 68th
9 – Alan MacKenzie – 15; 55th
22 – Max Kerr
2 – Cameron Eadie
22 – Max Kerr
14 – Dominic Boland
4 – Craig Reid
21 – Lyle Avci (GK)
Yellow Card – Thomson 55
Attendance – 1106
Officials;
Referee – Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee 1 – Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee 2 – Chris Rae
