East Stirling1–0Arbroath

Arbroath were forced into making changes to their defence as they faced East Stirlingshire. Captain Kevin Nicoll had a family commitment and Ryan McGeever missed out through injury so Scott McBride partnered Liam Gordon as he made a return from injury. The Lichties were down to the bare bones with Adam Hunter, Johnny Lindsay and Dylan Carreiro also missing through injury.

Conditions were similar to Gayfield with a howling wind making conditions far from ideal. Arbroath kicked off towards the closed terrace with Kevin Buchan making a starting appearance to partner Paul McManus in midfield. Captain Bobby Linn was joined in midfield with Whatley, Stewart and Lowdon and Johnstone, McBride, Gordon and Little playing in front of McCallum.
With the wind disrupting play it wasn’t until the 20th minute when the first real attempt at goal was taken by East Stirlingshire with McCallum making his first good save of the day. However McCallum was helpless a few minutes later when Kevin Nisbet unleashed a thumping looping shot from distance which with the power of the wind flew over McCallum.

Marc McCallum was to be Arbroath’s hero and the man of the match as East Stirlingshire helped with the wind and confidence kept up the momentum with Neil McCabe hitting the bar before McCallum once again made another good save from Greenhill.

At the other end Arbroath were finding it tough to get through the Shire defence with any crosses into the box being punched clear by Barnard. However Arbroath should have had a penalty just before half time as Craig Johnstone made a run into the box he was brought down by Neil McCabe who had his arms around Johnstone’s waist but play raged on and referee John McKendrick wasn’t interested.

Half time - East Stirlingshire 1 - 0 Arbroath

Arbroath were forced to make yet another defensive change as Liam Gordon emerged from the tunnel with a strapped up thigh, which meant a reshuffle with Liam Rowan coming on to replace him and as he slotted in at right back, Ricky Little joined Scott McBride in the middle of defence.

With the wind at their backs Arbroath took only 58 seconds into the second half to get a shot on goal as Keiran Stewart tried his luck but again Barnard was there. In the 49th minute Arbroath made their second change with Thomas Grant replacing Kevin Buchan. Arbroath had a wonderful opportunity in the 51st minute when Bobby Linn latched on to a McCallum goal kick in the Shire box before turning his man and crossing it low in front of the goal but there was no takes for the wonderfully teed up chance.
Liam Rowan tried his luck with a curling shot but it wasn’t hard enough to beat Barnard. In the 65th minute Connor Greene was shown a yellow card for a foul on Jordan Lowdon as he sprinted down the wing. Three minutes later Simon Murray replaced Lowdon. Possibly the best chance of the match came when Keiran Stewart cut in from the right hand side and fired low past Barnard but his shot was just the wrong side of the post.

As the Shire continued to counter attack it was thanks to the quick reflexes of Marc McCallum who kept Arbroath in the game on several occasions with his best save a sharp left claw away when it seemed certain to be a goal. Simon Murray created his own chance when he chased down the ball before taking on two defenders before turning and shooting but his shot was over the bar. Murray was again involved in the action as both he and McCabe fell on one another in the box as the Arbroath players protested for a penalty again Referee McKendrick just waved play on. Arbroath’s last chance game from a free kick on the edge of the box but Scott McBride’s free kick curled wide.