Arbroath 4 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
WHAT A GAME! Arbroath came back from 2 goals down to win 4-2 to remain 3rd place in the cinch Championship.
Having kept faith in the same starting XI that defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle midweek it was Arbroath who made a bright start to the game as they attacked the Switchie end.
However a foul on the touchline was taken about 20 foot forward by Fon Williams which resulted in Dunfermline winning a free kick on the left wing. Dom Thomas took the free kick and despite Derek Gaston making a save Kevin O’Hara was quick to follow up and opened the scoring in the 8th minute.
Just 4 minutes later and Dunfermline doubled their lead, O’Hara beat the offside trap and raced in on goal firing past Gaston who stood no chance.
However we know this team is full of fight and just 2 minutes later Michael McKenna fizzed a shot at goal which was palmed over by Fon Williams.
From McKenna’s corner kick O’Brien showed great skill to beat his man before firing into the net in the 15th minute. A great goal by our Captain and a special moment in front of his family who were watching on.
The ball was in the air a lot as Dunfermline had the wind at their backs but the Arbroath equaliser came in the 36th minute.
A foul by Nouble who was having another great game was in a near identical position from where McKenna scored against Inverness.
McKenna swept the ball in and it looked like it was heading in but Nouble headed in at the back post to make it 2-2 (whilst the BBC gives the goal to McKenna, it was definitely Nouble’s goal)
Half Time – Arbroath 2 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Half Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 62% – 38% Dunfermline Athletic
Total Shots – Arbroath 5 – 4 Dunfermline Athletic
On Target – Arbroath 3 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Off Target – Arbroath 0 – 1 Dunfermline Athletic
Blocked – Arbroath 2 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic
Corners – Arbroath 4 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 5 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Arbroath attacked the harbour end and after Nouble broke up a short Dunfermline corner the ball was played up field as Arbroath won a corner in a quick start to the second half.
Thomas O’Brien hit a shot from inside his own half which had the correct power and distance but just was wide of the post before Colin Hamilton headed just over from a McKenna corner kick.
In the 68th minute Dale Hilson and Bobby Linn came on for Anton Dowds and Luke Donnelly and what a substitution it was to be.
Just 9 minutes later and Bobby Linn had the entire stadium on their feet as he curled in a 25 yard strike into the top corner to give Arbroath the lead.
It was a classic Bobby strike and his entire team mates were all absolutely delighted for him.
For Arbroath it was to get better as Bobby was then fouled in the Dunfermline box and Michael McKenna stepped up to make it 4-2 from the spot for his 10th goal in 12 games.
Full Time – Arbroath 4 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Full Time Stats
Possession – Arbroath 51% – 49% Dunfermline Athletic
Total Shots – Arbroath 12 – 7 Dunfermline Athletic
On Target – Arbroath 6 – 4 Dunfermline Athletic
Off Target – Arbroath 3 – 1 Dunfermline Athletic
Blocked – Arbroath 3 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic
Corners – Arbroath 8 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 11 – 9 Dunfermline Athletic
What a win, what a comeback, what a team!
Enjoy your evening Lichties!
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
18 – Chris Hamilton
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
16 – Harrison Clark (Craigen 86)
12 – Scott Stewart
8 – Michael McKenna
19 – Anton Dowds (Linn 68)
17 – Joel Nouble
15 – Luke Donnelly (Hilson 68)
Substitutes
7 – David Gold
9 – Dale Hilson – 15; 68th
10 – Gavin Swankie
11 – Bobby Linn – 19; 68th
22 – Liam Henderson
28 – James Craigen – 16; 86th
21 – Calum Antell (GK)
Goals – O’Brien 15, Nouble 37, Linn 77, McKenna 85 pen
Yellow Cards – McKenna 51, Hilson 78
Dunfermline Athletic
1 – Owain Fon Williams (c)
2 – Aaron Comrie
3 – Josh Edwards
7 – Kevin O’Hara
10 – Nikolay Todorov
11 – Ryan Dow
12 – Rhys Breen
13 – Vytas Gašpuitis
16 – Dan Pybus (Wilson 66)
18 – Paul Allan (McCann 83)
23 – Dom Thomas
Substitutes
6 – Kyle MacDonald
8 – Kai Kennedy
9 – Craig Wighton
14 – Lewis McCann – 18; 83rd
15 – Iain Wilson – 16; 66th
22 – Leon Jones
29 – Deniz Mehmet (GK)
Goals – O’Hara 8, 12
Yellow Cards – Todorov 78
Attendance 1359
Referee; Peter Stuart
Assistant Referee 1; David Dunne
Assistant Referee 2 ; Kevin McElhinney
