Arbroath halted their winless run after securing a narrow victory over Queen’s Park at Gayfield on Friday night.
Goals at either end of the first half from Andy Winter and Rudi Molotnikov saw the Lichties head into half time with a comfortable lead, but Oliver Fisher’s strike 16 minutes from time made for a nervy finish as Arbroath held on for a 2-1 win.
The lineup showed three changes from the side that faced Stenhousemuir last week, with Winter, Charlie Dewar and Ryan Dow returning in place of Brody Paterson, Michael McKenna and Jude Bonnar, who picked up a knock in that match to keep him out of the squad.
There was a decent pace to the game in the opening stages and that also brought about the opening goal after just 12 minutes. Molotnikov picked up the ball on the edge of his own area before playing a one-two with Jacob MacIntyre and surging forward to set up Winter, who found the corner for his first league goal of the season.
Molotnikov found the net himself moments later with an audacious effort from deep in the visiting half, but the goal didn’t stand after referee Chris Graham had halted proceedings to book Michael Ruth after a cynical challenge on Scott Stewart.
Nikolay Todorov saw his header clip the bar on his return to Gayfield, before Lewis Stewart sent an effort over from distance as the Spiders went in search of an equaliser.
There were further chances at each end as the half progressed with Molotnikov firing an effort wide after losing his balance, before a fantastic reaction save from Aidan McAdams denied Ross McLean a certain equaliser minutes before half time.
That save would prove crucial just over a minute later as Arbroath extended their lead. MacIntyre was again involved as he raced towards the Queen’s Park goal, creating space for Molotnikov to take in the pass before sending the ball home in an almost carbon copy of the opener.
The second half didn’t begin quite as quickly as the first, with a shot from Ruth just shy of the hour mark failing to trouble McAdams.
On 74 minutes though, the away side’s control of the ball showed as they gave themselves a lifeline. A free kick from the left was cleared as far as Scott Martin whose low shot came through a mass of bodies, blindsiding McAdams who reacted well to block the ball, but Fisher was on hand to knock it back beyond the keeper.
Sean Crighton’s side continued to press and were only denied when the ball came off the back of an unknowing Tom Beadling’s head on the line, before Mclean tried his luck with another strike that was just too high.
A late flurry of free kicks for the visitors came to nothing as Arbroath defended resolutely and held on to claim the three points and provide a confidence boost ahead of next weekend’s trip to Firhill.
Arbroath: McAdams; Stewart, Dewar, Watson, Mackie; Constable, Flynn; MacIntyre, Molotnikov (McKenna, 63’), Dow (Beadling, 73’); Winter (Daly, 89’)
Queen’s Park: Wills; Brannan, Fisher, Murray, Lamie; Stewart (McDonnell, 80’), Martin, McLean, Connolly; Ruth, TodorovAttendance: 1,151 (73 away)
