Arbroath’s 2-1 win over Berwick Rangers at Gayfield on Saturday ended a good week for the Red Lichties. Seven days ago Paul Sheerin’s side held a one point advantage at the summit and after winning at Albion Rovers in midweek and seeing other results go in their favour the week has ended with a six point lead established with a game in hand.
Keith Gibson gave Arbroath the lead when he finished off a corner from player/ manager Sheerin from close range midway through the first half and Steven Doris headed in 7 minutes into the restart to double their advantage.
Berwick, who had been on a six game unbeaten run, pulled a goal back in injury time when home goalkeeper Darren Hill got into a fankle and ended up placing a Darren Gribben corner into his own net, however it was too little, too late.
Despite their lead, and the excitement building in the Angus town for a first ever Championship, Sheerin was playing things down saying, “We have an opportunity and that is all it is but it is not something we are discussing in the dressing room. We are simply focused on short term targets and that is doing us okay at the moment.”
Berwick boss Jimmy Crease was disappointed his side did not put up more of a challenge saying, “I have to be disappointed with that as Arbroath did not have to extend themselves to defeat us.”
The sides that started the day immediately below the league leaders Stranraer and Queen’s Park drew 3-3 in a pulsating game at Hampden.
Keith Knox’s Blues side opened the scoring in 13 minutes when home goalkeeper Adam Strain pushed a Scott Agnew corner into the path of Kevin Nicoll and he shot through a forest of legs to score.
Queen’s equalised when David Anderson slipped Martin McBride the midfielder sent home a fierce drive into the far corner.
Stranraer caught the home side cold at the start of the second half when Craig Malcolm picked up a head-flick from Armand One and sent in a low shot from 20 yards.
It was three shortly afterwards as Malcolm teed up One and the Frenchman curled home a fantastic first time shot from 20 yards to reach parity with team-mate Malcolm on 21 goals for the season.
The Spiders were desperate to cling on to their 12 game unbeaten record and in the last 10 minutes Little fired in his first ever Senior goal with a 25 yard shot and Jamie Longworth grabbed an ultimately deserved equaliser when he fired home at the second attempt from 15 yards
Hampden head coach Gardner Speirs had mixed emotions, “You have to be pleased at getting a point but I am disappointed at the goals we gave away. The boys were brave all the same, never hid and kept on looking for the ball.”
Stranraer boss Knox felt that losing Nicoll to injury turned the game the way of the home side saying, “Kevin gives our defence great cover and when he went off we lost our shape a wee bit. It is Arbroath’s title to lose now.”
Montrose lost 2-0 at home to promotion seeking Albion Rovers for a second time this season with former Links Park front man John Gemmell opening the scoring after just 7 minutes when he scored from close range.
Scott Chaplain sealed the win 14 minutes from time when he tapped in a Robert Love pass to have manager Paul Martin beaming, “We could have had a better lead by half time, however we seem to like doing things the hard way.”
Montrose boss Steven Tweed lamented his side’s failings at both ends of the pitch as he said, “We missed a great chance in the opening minute and then fell out of things before coming back when it was too late. We also have to stop losing basic goals if we are to achieve anything.”
Annan are still very much in the hunt for promotion after winning 3-2 at Elgin City and they will climb back into a play-off spot if they defeat East Stirling tomorrow night.
Sean O’Connor and Kevin Neilson had the Galabank side two up before half time, however Andy Aitken was sent off 3 minutes in to the second period for denying David Gormley a goalscoring opportunity with a foul and that turned things in Elgin’s favour.
Gormley pulled a goal back and when Craig Gunn forced an equaliser it looked like it would be Elgin climbing the table, however tragedy struck for the home side as an own goal from Allan Dempsie took the points south.
Annan boss Harry Cairney beamed, “The day had been going so well until Andy was sent off. Elgin got a lift and looked to be heading for a third, however we got a break with the own goal.”
Borough Briggs boss Ross Jack was trying to be upbeat saying, “It was a horrible way to lose. There are still 30 points available and we will battle for every one.”
The bottom of the table clash between Clyde and East Stirling was a casualty of the weather.
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