QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0 – 3 ARBROATH
SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2025, WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE ONE
First half goals from Scott Stewart, Fraser Taylor and Ryan Dow secured an emphatic win for Arbroath over a lacklustre Queen of the South at Palmerston Park.
David Gold and Colin Hamilton made one change to the side that defeated Inverness at The Greenversity Stadium at Gayfield last weekend, with Dow replacing the injured Tam O’Brien.
It was a bright start from the Lichties with Dow and Stewart looking dangerous, the latter dragging the first effort of the match past the home goal four minutes in. Less than ten minutes later, Stewart would find the opener, racing on to a clever flicked header from Andy Winter, before firing the ball into the roof of the net. It should have been two soon after with a powerful run from Sam Stanton creating space for Dow in the box, the forward did well to chop back inside but was denied by a strong Ross Stewart save.
The dominant start continued though, and Arbroath soon had a cushion, with Taylor driving into the box and showing good composure to roll the ball into the far corner. Goal number three wasn’t long in coming with the opening two scorers combining as Stewart’s pass was sent first time to the back post by Taylor, where Dow was first to the ball to nod into the far corner, despite the best efforts of Matty Douglas on the line.
Queens did eventually threaten beyond the half hour mark, with some neat link up play allowing Liam Smith in behind on the right to play the ball across the face of goal, with no one able to take advantage of the confusion in the middle.
The second half began much the same as the first with Arbroath in control and they almost added a fourth within two minutes of the restart, Stewart again causing bother down the right with his cross being tamely fired goalwards by Dow.
At the other end, the home side began to show a bit more of an attacking threat and came close when Smith fizzed a shot just past the far post. They did finally test Aidan McAdams when Keith Watson’s clearance ricocheted to Brendan Dickenson, but his effort was easily held.
Arbroath were still looking dangerous going forward though and Taylor was only denied by Stewart’s outstretched leg after doing well to take on Winter’s pass.
The hosts came close to finding a goal back with half-time substitute Jordan Allan leaping well in the middle to meet a cross from the left, but his header failed to trouble McAdams, clipping the bar on its way over.
A final chance for a consolation goal did fall for the hosts when Adam Brooks took aim on the left side of the box, but ultimately his effort provided no problems for McAdamswhose clean sheet remained intact as the Lichties made it back-to-back three goal wins.
Queen of the South: Stewart; Brydon, Douglas (Bryden, 80), MacIntyre (Charters, 46); Dickenson, Luissint (Allan, 46), Lyon, Cochrane, Doherty (Thomson, 90); Smith, Brooks
Arbroath: McAdams; Penman, Steele, Watson, Wilkie; Spalding (Gold, 75), Stanton; Stewart (Thomson, 83), Taylor(Murray, 88), Dow (King, 88); Winter (McKechnie, 88)
Attendance: 1,203
