Penalties were once again the downfall of Arbroath as the Lichties crashed out of the KDM Evolution Trophy on spot kicks to Airdrieonians.
Aaron Muirhead and Scott Robinson’s strikes looked to have the hosts heading through to the semi finals after Lewis McGrattan’s early opener, but Euan Henderson struck against Arbroath again to earn a 2-2 draw and send the tie to penalties, with Airdrie coming out on top just like they did in the Scottish Cup last month, after Harry Stone’s save from Findlay Marshall.
As always seems to be the case under the lights at Gayfield this season, the weather wasn’t playing ball, with a howling wind behind the visitors in the first half and sideways rain not conducive to flowing football.
Arbroath did fashion an early chance though, with Robinson doing well to win the ball high up the park and slip in Scott Stewart, whose cutback was sent just past the post by Ryan Dow.
The away side had a good chance to open the scoring on 16 minutes when Henderson evaded the offside trap to break through on goal, but he was denied by Aidan McAdams, before Jacob MacIntyre saw his effort fly just off target soon after.
Midway through the first half however, the Diamonds did make the breakthrough. The ball was worked into McGrattan whose first time pass was controlled by Adam Devine before being returned to the forward to stroke home a first-time finish.
Despite the conditions, both sides were making a game of things, and it was back level less than ten minutes before half time when a Jack Wilkie corner created chaos in the middle before Craig Watson was able to sweep the ball over to Muirhead, who saw his goal bound effort take a deflection and loop into the corner.
The Lichties almost took the lead moments later when a ball was clipped in to substitute Findlay Marshall down the left, with his cross being diverted wide by Robinson.
With the wind behind them, it was up to Arbroath to take control of the game, and they did just that with a second goal just shy of the hour mark. Another corner from Wilkie was the provider, with the full-back’s in-swinging delivery nodded into the corner by Robinson.
In truth, Airdrie hadn’t threatened a lot in the second half with Arbroath looking like heading to the semi-finals, but one quick attack changed that as Henderson slotted the ball past McAdams to send the two sides to penalties for a second time this season.
There was though still time for a red card with Ross Callachan picking up two bookings for identical fouls, tugging back opponents to deny a counter attack, in his eleven minutes on the pitch.
Eight of the nine kicks were converted, with Stone’s strong right-handed save to deny Marshall the only blip, allowing Cole McKinnon to fire home the winner and tee up a clash with Raith Rovers in the last four.
Arbroath: McAdams; Enem (Marshall, 33), Muirhead (Lang, 59), Watson, Wilkie; Cochrane, Flynn; Stewart, MacIntyre, Dow; Robinson
Airdrieonians: Stone; Devine (MacDonald, 73), Ross, McGinty, Strapp; McMaster (Barjonas, 64); Telfer (Mochrie, 64), Gallagher (Hastie, 73), Constable (McKinnon, 37); McGrattan, Henderson
Attendance: 535
