St Mirren 0 – 1 Arbroath
Ian Campbell Interview
Dylan Paterson Interview
Daniel Fosu Interview
Arbroath made their first ever visit to St Mirren Park one to remember on Saturday as they left with all 3 points thanks to an injury time goal by substitute Dylan Paterson.
With just two pre-season games under their belt, the Arbroath players travelled down to Paisley with 4 of the players having just returned from holiday this week.
Arbroath Manager Dick Campbell is on a much deserved family holiday so Assistant Manager Ian Campbell took charge of the team and he named a strong line up with Derek Gaston, Jason Thomson, Colin Hamilton, Ricky Little and Captain Thomas O’Brien making up a very familiar back line.
Keaghan Jacobs made his competitive debut and was joined by David Gold, Scott Stewart and Bobby Linn in midfield with Kieran Shanks also making his first competitive start up front and he was joined by Michael McKenna in attack.
On a very hot afternoon, the St Mirren pitch looked immaculate and with the Arbroath fans seated in the North end of the Ground, it was St Mirren who was attacking that end in the first half.
New Zealand Striker Alex Grieve had a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring in just the 3rd minute but his header at the back post was just wide.
The Saints were definitely having the better of early possession but the experienced Arbroath defence were up to the task.
Arbroath won their first corner in the 11th minute but couldn’t take advantage of the set piece.
Grieve came close again on the 18th minute with another header, this time his glancing header flashed past the Arbroath post.
St Mirren’s Greg Kiltie thought he had scored in the 23rd minute but it was ruled out due a foul on Derek Gaston by Toyosi Olusanya who was given a second warning by Referee Kevin Clancy after another foul minutes earlier.
Michael McKenna who hadn’t played during pre-season was showing no side effects as his energetic style of play paid off in the 23rd minute when his surging run forward was brought to a halt by Scott Tanser.
Bobby Linn took the free kick but his shot from 30 yards out rose high over the St Mirren bar.
St Mirren applied pressure with a series of corners but again the Arbroath defence remained strong.
David Gold shot wide in the 36th minute before Ethan Erhahon had a shot blocked in the 40th minute.
A surging run forward down the wing in the 45th minute by Kieran Shanks allowed Scott Stewart to burst forward in support. Great play by Shanks allowed him to beat a defender before finding Stewart who hit an angled shot across Trevor Carson’s goal only to watch as it hit the post and bounce back just out of reach of Shanks.
Half Time Stats – St Mirren 0 – 0 Arbroath
Half Time Stats
Possession – St Mirren 62% – 38% Arbroath
Total Shots – St Mirren 6 – 4 Arbroath
On Target – St Mirren 0 – 0 Arbroath
Off Target – St Mirren 4 – 4 Arbroath
Blocked – St Mirren 2 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – St Mirren 4 – 3 Arbroath
Saves – St Mirren 0 – 0 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – St Mirren 6 – 2 Arbroath
Jay Henderson came on for Olusanya at half time, and Alex Grieve came close for the third time as the ball dropped to him at the back post but the young striker fired over in the 46th minute.
St Mirren kept up the pressure with Joe Shaughnessy smashing the cross bar with a header in the 53rd minute.
Striker Kieran Shanks kept Arbroath in the game as he headed a Declan Gallagher header off the line in the 61st minute.
Arbroath made 4 changes over the space of 5 minutes. In the 61st Dale Hilson and James Craigen replaced Kieran Shanks and Bobby Linn, then Nicky Low and Daniel Fosu replaced Keaghan Jacobs and Jason Thomson.
The changes brought a new energy level to the Lichties who started to come more and more into the game.
David Gold picked up the only booking of the match in the 67th minute for a foul on Kiltie.
Daniel Fosu made a good start winning possession before surging forward, with Dale Hilson pestering and harassing the St Mirren defence winning second balls.
Arbroath were getting forward more and the travelling supported increased their volume with James Craigen coming close in the 70th minute as he first just over with a left footed strike.
St Mirren replaced the impressive Alex Grieve with Kieran Offord in the 76th minute for their second substitution.
Nicky Low almost found Daniel Fosu who had ran into the box in a lovely piece of play down the Arbroath left wing.
Dylan Paterson replaced Scott Stewart in the 82nd minute and like the other substitutes made a bright start pushing forward.
Dale Hilson had a shot blocked in the 85th minute before coming close with a header from a corner 2 minutes later.
As it looked like the game was heading to a penalty shoot-out a sweeping move seen the ball played to Fosu on the right wing, and he found McKenna who swept in a curling ball into the box which seen Paterson run in front of his marker before showing great technique to hit bouncing ball into the back of the net past Carson to send the Arbroath support wild.
The goal came in the 93rd minute but another nail biting 3 minutes passed before the full time whistle sounded.
Full Time – St Mirren 0 – 1 Arbroath
It was an excellent start for Arbroath, and yet another clean sheet. The Arbroath defence backed up by Derek Gaston again were up for the fight, with the Arbroath midfield working really hard to chase and break down in an organised effort.
A vital 3 points, but valuable match fitness and our new players integrating smoothly into our side. A fantastic Saturday back!
We hope you will join us on Wednesday as we return home to Gayfield.
C’mon the Lichties
Full Time Stats
Possession – St Mirren 53% – 47% Arbroath
Total Shots – St Mirren 13 – 8 Arbroath
On Target – St Mirren 2 – 1 Arbroath
Off Target – St Mirren 9 – 6 Arbroath
Blocked – St Mirren 2 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – St Mirren 7 – 4 Arbroath
Saves – St Mirren 0 – 1 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – St Mirren 11 – 15 Arbroath
St Mirren
1 – Trevor Carson
22 – Marcus Fraser
5 – Declan Gallagher
4 – Joe Shaughnessy (c)
3 – Scott Tanser
6 – Mark O’Hara
11 – Greg Kiltie
16 – Ethan Erhahon
20 – Toyosi Olusanya (Henderson 45)
7 – Jonah Ayunga (Jamieson 90+1)
21 – Alex Grieve (Offord 76)
St Mirren Substitutes
2 – Richard Tait
23 – Ryan Strain
18 – Charles Dunne
15 – Dylan Reid
8 – Ryan Flynn
12 – Jay Henderson – 28; 45th
24 – Lewis Jamieson – 7; 91st
33 – Kieran Offord – 21; 76th
27 – Peter Urminský (GK)
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson (Fosu 66)
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
7 – David Gold
10 – Keaghan Jacobs (Low 66)
12 – Scott Stewart (Paterson 82)
8 – Michael McKenna
16 – Kieran Shanks (Hilson 61)
11 – Bobby Linn (Craigen 61)
Arbroath Substitutes
6 – Nicky Low – 10; 66th
9 – Dale Hilson – 16; 61st
14 – Dylan Paterson – 12; 82nd
27 – Daniel Fosu – 2; 66th
28 – James Craigen – 11; 61st
21 – Cammy Gill (GK)
Goal: Paterson 90+3
Yellow Card – Gold 67
Attendance: 1923
Officials;
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
