Arbroath1–1Annan

Arbroath returned to Gayfield hoping to find the back of the net and return to winning ways. Injury and suspension had hit the squad hard going into the match.

With Liam Gordon and Keiran Stewart dropping out due to injury and Ricky Little serving a one match suspension the Lichties team lined up with – McCallum in goal and in front of him were Rowan, Nicoll, McBride and Johnstone. Kieran McWalter made his first league start of the season after being recalled to play along side Whatley, Lowdon and Linn with Thomas Grant playing in behind Simon Murray. The bench was really stretched with McManus, Buchan, Smith and Wilson the only other fit players.

Annan kicked off proceedings as Arbroath were shooting towards the Harbour with a slight wind but reasonable Scottish Spring temperatures. Annan looked the hungrier team and within 2 minutes Marc McCallum did well to run out and block a shot from Josh Todd before a Stuart McColm shot from down the Annan left wing flew across the Arbroath goal. Annan kept the pressure up as Kenneth Mackay also managed to fire in a right footed strike but it was wide of the goal.

The Lichties finally did put some pressure on the Annan goal after a foul on Thomas Grant allowed a free kick to fly into the box and resulted in a corner but it Mitchell in the Annan goal was quick to clear his lines. Annan again kept seeking out the opening goal with McColm once again forcing a low save from McCallum. Making his return to Arbroath FC, Kieran McWalter had looked lively and showing a hunger to push his home town team on but was somewhat unlucky to be shown a yellow card by referee Steven Kirkland following a coming together after a knock down from a header.
Thomas Grant should have given Arbroath the lead when he escaped his defender on the left wing and was through on goal but from the angle his shot could only find the side netting. As football goes you always feel like get punished when you fail to take your chances and that was almost the case as McColm hit the post in the 29th minute for Annan before Mackay should have opened the scoring as he missed a guilt edge chance.
Jordan Lowdon had a nice move down the left hand wing and his cross caused all sort of chaos in the Annan box and as time seemed to stand still as Simon Murray and Steven Swinglehurst and keeper Alex Mitchel were almost on their knees 3 yards out from goal as Mitchell somehow got a finger to parry Murray’s shot off the line.

Half time – Arbroath 0 – 0 Annan Athletic

As Arbroath kicked off the second half a fantastic cross into the Annan box allowed Bobby Linn to jump and head the ball at goal but it was unfortunately directly at the centre of the goal and Mitchell made the leap to save. Annan finally did open the scoring as target man Kenneth Mackay hit a left foot shot under McCallum to give Annan the lead in the 50th minute.

Pleading shouts from the stands were in unison of bringing on another striker but as Arbroath pushed Lowdon shot from distance but to his team mates annoyance should have passed to Craig Johnstone who had overlapped him and was clean through in the Annan box. Simon Murray chased a ball through and seemed to be fouled by Swinglehurst on the edge of the box but referee Kirkland wasn’t convinced and Murray was fortunate that the referee was looking the other way when there seemed to be an altercation between the players as they both got up.

The supporters finally got their wish when in the 60th minute Paul McManus came on to replace Liam Rowan. McManus made an instant impact winning a free kick in a good position before moments later working a fine move with Thomas Grant whose shot from 18 yards beat Mitchell but bounced back off the far post.

Simon Murray has been waiting since scoring against East Fife on the 31st of January for his next goal and he finally got back on the scoresheet taking advantage of a mix up in the Annan defence. His quick feet and instinct allowed him to get behind Swinglehurst and fire low past Mitchell to pull Arbroath level in the 67th minute.

Bobby Linn did well to make space for himself but as he shot at goal he just was starting to lean back and his shot flew over the Annan bar.
The substitutions started to come thick and fast with Annan replacing McColm with Junior Ogen before Thomas Grant was booked for a foul on Andrew Mitchell. As Arbroath pushed for a second goal they brought on Kevin Buchan for Jordan Lowdon but the Lichtie’s afternoon was to take a mighty blow as Paul McManus went down at the edge of his own box after being fouled by Mitchell. The players who were around him immediately signalled for physio Becky Dunphy before she called over for the stretcher and was joined by a Doctor to apply some sort of protective brace to McManus’s right leg. Jack Smith replaced McManus as he was stretched off to applause by both sets of fans.

Annan made their final changes with Steven Logan replaced Ryan McStay before Chris Dickinson came on for Kenneth Mackay. Peter Watson should have won it for Annan Athletic in the 89th as he had a free header in the middle of the Arbroath goal but somehow managed to put it wide.