Arbroath 4 – 0 Ayr United
Arbroath secured a vital 3 points on Saturday in their fight to avoid the Championship relegation play-off as they demolished Ayr United at Gayfield.
The Lichties made just one change with Dale Hilson replacing Lewis Moore in the starting line up whilst striker Luke Donnelly returned to the bench after a 2 month absence through injury.
With an early kick off so that the football didn’t clash with the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral it was a beautiful spring day at Gayfield with warm sunshine and just a cool breeze.
With Ayr sitting just one point above Arbroath before kick off the stakes were high and Ayr showed their intent early on winning a free kick on the edge of the Arbroath 18 yard box in the opening 30 seconds but Jamie Barjonas’s free kick was high over the bar.
Ayr continued to press winning a corner a minute later before Barjonas went on a surging run into the box before Thomas O’Brien cleared at the front post.
It would be Ayr’s best spell as Arbroath soon started to win every ball, showing great hunger and determination.
In the 6th minute young Ben Williamson was denied by a fantastic save from Peter Morrison, pushing his angled shot round his far post to deny the Rangers loanee.
In the 10th minute an Arbroath corner was cleared as far as Dale Hilson who found Kris Doolan and his deflected cross was headed in at the near post by Ricky Little who made it two goals in two games!
As Arbroath continued to press they were rewarded with their second goal in the 24th minute.
Kris Doolan intercepted a pass and the ball fell into the path of Dale Hilson who played the ball forward where Ben Williamson was quick to latch on and the 19 year old showed great composure to poke the ball into the far corner of the net for his first senior goal.
Just 3 minutes later and it was game over. Jack Hamilton was unmarked in the middle of the 6 yard box and Nicky Low’s corner kick picked him out and his header flew into the back of the net for his 7th Arbroath goal since arriving in January.
The entire Arbroath team were up for the match and although they had went 3 goals up it was no more than they deserved as they were first to every ball and every second ball.
Arbroath could smell blood and Dale Hilson almost caught out Morrison who was just able to tip Hilson’s quick free kick over his bar.
Jack Hamilton who was tormenting the Ayr defence, turned provider in the 36th minute but Doolan’s first time strike was just millimetres over the bar in another slick move.
Ayr had introduced striker Marc McKenzie for Sam Roscoe just before half time and also switched Barjonas for the experienced Josh Todd at half time.
First Half Stats
Possession – Arbroath 64% – 36% Ayr United
Total Shots – Arbroath 10 – 1 Ayr United
On Target – Arbroath 6 – 0 Ayr United
Off Target – Arbroath 1 – 1 Ayr United
Blocked – Arbroath 3 – 0 Ayr United
Corners – Arbroath 5 – 2 Ayr United
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 2 – 10 Ayr United
Unfortunately for Ayr the change in personnel didn’t make much difference as David Gold fired a 25 yard shot just wide of goal in the 55th minute as Arbroath kept up the pressure.
In the 65th minute Hilson finally got his reward. A Colin Hamilton throw in was played into his path as he escaped two defenders and with a clever chest down he struck the ball from 18 yards with his right foot inside the post to make it 4-0.
It was truly deserved for Hilson who had covered nearly every inch of the pitch and was pivotal in starting so many of the Arbroath attacks.
The chances kept coming and with the fresh legs from substitutes Michael McKenna, James Craigen and Scott Stewart it looked like it was only a matter of time before Arbroath scored their 5th.
Scott Stewart and Jack Hamilton both fired across the goal before a Craigen corner in the 80th minute had to punch clear as it looked goal bound.
In the 92nd minute Arbroath keeper Derek Gaston had to make a low save at his front post from an angled drive from Josh Todd in his first real involvement since the opening minutes.
The final whistle brought celebrations in the home dug out as Arbroath opened up a 3 point gap and move above Greenock Morton and Ayr United.
A simply outstanding performance from everyone in maroon, Arbroath now travel to Dunfermline next Saturday and know that another win would be a huge step in securing league survival.
C’mon the Lichties
Second Half Stats
Possession – Arbroath 56% – 44% Ayr United
Total Shots – Arbroath 21 – 2 Ayr United
On Target – Arbroath 8 – 1 Ayr United
Off Target – Arbroath 7 – 1 Ayr United
Blocked – Arbroath 6 – 0 Ayr United
Corners – Arbroath 11 – 2 Ayr United
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 11 – 15 Ayr United
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
7 – David Gold (Stewart 67)
17 – Nicky Low (McKenna 67)
18 – Ben Williamson
19 – Jack Hamilton
14 – Kris Doolan (Craigen 67)
9 – Dale Hilson
Substitutes
6 – Mark Whatley
8 – Michael McKenna – 17; 67th
12 – Scott Stewart – 7; 67th
15 – Luke Donnelly
16 – Lewis Moore
28 – James Craigen – 14; 67th
31 – Robert Douglas (GK)
Goals – Little 11, Williamson 24, J. Hamilton 27, Hilson 65
Ayr United
1 – Peter Morrison
2 – Jordan Houston
30 – Jack Baird (c)
5 – Sam Roscoe (McKenzie 34)
17 – Corrie Ndaba
3 – Patrick Reading
4 – Aaron Muirhead
8 – Michael Miller
28 – Jamie Barjonas (Todd 45)
11 – Luke McCowan
9 – Andre Wright (Walsh 55)
Substitutes
6 – Andy Murdoch
7 – Michael Moffat
10 – Tom Walsh – 9; 55th
15 – Josh Todd – 28; 45th
18 – Joe Chalmers
22 – Mark McKenzie – 5; 34th
29 – Peter Urminský (GK)
Yellow Cards – Miller 31, Muirhead 34
Officials;
Referee – Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee 1 – Gary Hilland
Assistant Referee 2 – Colin McAlpine
