ARBROATH FC 4 – 0 STENHOUSEMUIR FC, Saturday 12th April 2025, William Hill League One
Arbroath sealed the League One title and an instant return to the Championship after an emphatic victory over Stenhousemuir at Gayfield on Saturday evening.
A Sam Stanton double was added to by further goals from Fraser Taylor and Andy Winter to secure a resounding 4-0 win against the Warriors.
The Lichties began brightly with three efforts in as many minutes, Ryan Dow clearing the bar while Andy Winter and Scott Stewart forced Darren Jamieson into two early saves.
Arbroath were on top for most of the half, with a lack of composure all that really stood between them and some clear-cut chances, but on the stroke of half-time, the opening goal was finally found by Sam Stanton.
The danger looked to be gone as the ball left the box, but Tam O’Brien’s scuffed ball goalwards found Stanton and he turned brilliantly before firing it into the top corner from close range.
Any nerves as the second half began were soon quashed with a second goal on 47 minutes. Taylor did well to bring the ball down on the edge of the area, resisting the urge to shoot first time, instead coming inside to send a left footed shot in via the post.
The points and the title then looked to be secured five minutes later when Stewart got a second attempt to pick someone out in the middle, expertly finding Stanton who notched his second of the game with a clever finish off the underside of the bar.
That apparent lack of composure was clearly gone in the second half and by the hour mark, the fans could really celebrate as Arbroath found the net again. Stanton was again involved in the middle of the area, with the ball finding its way to Winter who struck a high shot past Jamieson.
It was almost five and would have been were it not for a brilliant stop from Jamieson as Dow attempted to slot the ball into the far corner.
Kieran McKechnie also went close to adding some gloss to the scoreline, with a dangerous strike from distance that the visiting keeper had to push around the post.
That fifth goal wasn’t to come, but that didn’t matter as the Lichties claimed the title with three games remaining, meaning they will be playing Championship football once more next season.
Arbroath: McAdams; Penman (McKechnie, 75), Muirhead (Watson, 70), O’Brien, Wilkie; Flynn, Stanton; Stewart, Taylor (Spalding, 75), Dow (Murray, 70); Winter (Gallagher, 78)
Stenhousemuir: Jamieson; Meechan, Buchanan, Fisher, Bilham (Ewen, 84); Anderson (Wedderburn, 77), McGill (Aitken, 66); O’Reilly, Alston (Jacobs, 66), Taylor; O’Donnell (Yates, 65)
Attendance: 2205
