ALLOA ATHLETIC 2 – 3 ARBROATH FC, Saturday 8th March 2025, William Hill League One
Calum Gallagher’s late goal saw Arbroath recover from earlier throwing away a two-goal lead in a five-goal thriller against Alloa Athletic.
Goals from Ryan Dow and Aaron Muirhead saw the Lichties in control, before Luke Rankin and Stefan Scougall brought Alloa level, but Gallagher’s effort two minutes from the end secured a 3-2 win.
There were two changes made to the side that won at Dumbarton on Tuesday, with Muirhead and Ally Spalding replacing Tam O’Brien and David Gold who dropped out of the matchday squad.
The first shot on goal fell the away of Arbroath ten minutes in, with Fraser Taylor picking out Sam Stanton just inside the box and he forced PJ Morrison into a smart save low to his left.
Arbroath were on top without threatening too much after that effort, but that all changed on the 20-minute mark as the deadlock was broken. Scott Stewart did what he did best as he drove down the right-hand side before playing a dangerous ball across goal, which Dow was able to knock into the back of the net.
Aidan McAdams was called into action for the first time at the other end soon after though, staying big to deny Steven Buchanan, before Scott Taggart’s effort from distance was deflected behind for a corner.
The Lichties keeper was needed once again eight minutes before the break as Josh Gentles found space in the box, but again McAdams made a strong save to ensure Arbroath went in ahead at the break.
That lead would be extended less than two minutes after the restart as Taylor sent in a delightful drilled free kick which Muirhead was first to meet, sliding in to send the ball under Morrison.
Alloa pressed in search of a way back into the game, forcing a succession of corners, as well as two Cameron O’Donnell free kicks that were about as close as the Wasps came, until a smart save from McAdams denied Luke Donnelly’s goal bound flick.
They wouldn’t be denied for long though, as Rankin raced onto a long ball and capitalised on some hesitancy from McAdams to lob over the keeper and provide the hosts with a way back into the match.
The comeback was complete soon after as Scougall’s ball back into the box following a clearance bounced over everyone into the net, despite claims of a foul on McAdams.
Arbroath may have been fearing that the three points were away from them, when Morrison denied Stewart’s strike, but two minutes from time, the Lichties did move back in front as Ryan Flynn’s header forward was collected by Gallagher who kept his cool to find the target and send the travelling support into delirium.
Alloa Athletic: Morrison; Taggart, McKay (Dewar, 79), Neill, MacKenzie; Roberts (Honeyman, 84); Buchanan (Rankin, 65), Scougall, O’Donnell; Gentles, Donnelly
Arbroath: McAdams; Penman (Steele, 56), Muirhead, Watson, Wilkie; Spalding (Flynn, 56), Stanton; Stewart (Thomson, 80), Taylor (Gallagher, 79), Dow (Murray, 79); Winter
Attendance: 805
