Arbroath 4 – 3 Celtic XI
Friendly – Season 2018 / 2019
Saturday 19th January 2019, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, 2.00pm kick off
Arbroath recorded victory over a Celtic XI at Gayfield on Saturday thanks to a Danny Denholm hat-trick and a debut goal from Greig Spence as Damien Duff joined Thomas McIntyre as they led a young Celtic together team for the first time including American Trialist Andrew Gutman.
Arbroath handed a debut to new signing Greig Spence with several players also enjoying a full 90 minutes as Dick Campbell used his squad to allow some players a rest to overcome niggling injuries.
Celtic took an early lead after just 4 minutes when Darren Hill was adjudged to have brought down Armstrong Oko-Flex with Oko-Flex scoring from the spot, but the Lichties were level just 5 minutes later.
Good play by Ryan McCord found Steven Doris on the wing who crossed for Danny Denholm who smashed a low strike into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Danny gave the Lichties the lead in the 34th minute after firing in a Spence cutback with precision.
Greig Spence made an impressive debut for the Lichties linking up well and chasing every ball and made the perfect start by netting the 3rd Arbroath goal from close range as this time Danny Denholm repaid the favour with an assist to make it 3-1.
Danny Denholm had a fantastic game and completed an impressive hat-trick with a collector’s item – a headed goal! A great cross down the right from Omar Kader was perfectly headed back across goal and into the net for an impressive treble and to make it 4-1 to the Lichties as Arbroath were in full control.
Arbroath Manager Dick Campbell didn’t want to risk his substitutes as he revealed several were carrying niggles but Celtic made several changes with 15 year old substitute Karamoko Dembele winning a penalty in the 78th minute.
It looked like Ryan McCord won the ball but referee Craig Napier pointed to the spot allowing Armstrong Oko-Flex to net his second of the game.
Celtic pulled another goal back just 8 minutes later as substitute Grant Savoury netted as the Arbroath stepped out appealing for offside. However the linesman flag didn’t go up and Savoury slotted past Hill to make it 4-3.
The young Celts run out of time for an impressive comeback but a good game for both sets of supporters.
For the home fans they got to see good performances from Danny Denholm and Ryan McCord with Steven Doris and Greig Spence linking up well up top.
Arbroath
1 – Darren Hill
2 – David Gold
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Mark Whatley (c)
6 – Michael McKenna
7 – Omar Kader
8 – Ryan McCord
9 – Steven Doris
10 – Greig Spence
11 – Danny Denholm
Substitutes
12 – Jason Thomson
14 – Bobby Linn
15 – Thomas O’Brien
16 – Luke Donnelly
18 – Gavin Swankie
21 – Darren Jamieson (GK)
Goals – Denholm 9, 34, 59, Spence 37
Yellow Card – Hill 4
Celtic
1 – Ryan Mullen
2 – Lewis Bell (Deas 56)
3 – Andrew Gutman (T) (Church 60)
4 – Stephen Welsh (c)
5 – Wallace Duffy
6 – Mark Hill (Kennedy 71)
7 – Scott Robertson (Caffrey 71)
8 – Kerr McInroy
9 – Armstrong Oko-flex
10 – Kundai Benyu (Dembele 76)
11 – Calvin Miller (Savoury 71)
Substitutes
12 – Daniel Church – 3; 60th
13 – Liam Hughes (GK)
14 – Paul Kennedy – 6; 71st
15 – Thomas Caffrey – 7; 71st
16 – Grant Savoury – 11; 71st
17 – Karamoko Dembele – 10; 76th
18 – Robbie Deas – 2; 56th
Goals – Oko-flex pen 4, pen 78 Savoury 86
Referee; Craig Napier
Assistant Referee 1 – Chris Phillips
Assistant Referee 2 – Jonathan Bell
Attendance – Entry was free, but it looked like a crowd of 425-450 were in attendance.
