Arbroath0–1East Stirling

Arbroath took to the field just days after a spirited come back against Elgin City knowing that a win in their rearranged match against East Stirlingshire could propel them back to the top of the table, but the visitors were looking to complete a hat trick of defeating the top three teams having seen off Albion Rovers a week earlier and then having demolished Queen’s Park at the weekend.

As promised Allan Moore had rung the changes with a line up which was very similar to earlier in the season when the Lichties were all conquering. Kevin Nicoll and Scott McBride made a welcome return to the team to line up alongside Mark Whatley who slotted into the right back position with Scott McBride playing on the left and Nicoll partnering Liam Gordon in the centre. Kieran Stewart replaced Whatley in midfield and joined Hunter in the middle with Linn on the right and Carreiro returning to start on the left to assist McManus and Murray up front.

The Arbroath bench listed Jack Smith, Kevin Buchan, Liam Rowan, Thomas Grant, Craig Johnstone, Ryan McGeever and Lenny Wilson with Ricky Little, Jordan Lowdon and Johnny Lindsay in the stands.

As the excavators worked under floodlights to bolster Arbroath’s sea defences during low tide at the rear of the Gayfield it was a chilly calm evening on the pitch. As Kevin Nicoll lead out his team again, the Arbroath players came together as a group as the teams changed end in a mini huddle, the motivation already looked in place. As Arbroath kicked off shooting towards the Harbour End, it was clear that even in the opening few exchanges you could tell that the Lichties were really up for it. They were chasing every ball and every player until they won it back.

Paul McManus was the first to threaten for Arbroath when he found space in the centre of the box to smash the ball on the volley but his shot was just wide to the right of Barnard’s goal. Dylan Carreiro was next to shoot as he struck from distance and had a soft claim for handball as the Shire defenders blocked his shot en route to goal. Again the momentum and energy was brimming as another break into the box and a change of passing between Murray and Hunter finally led to McManus winning Arbroath’s first corner kick as it was headed clear it fell to Bobby Linn who was lurking outside the box ready to pounce but his snapshot volley was close but just wide to the left.

Neil McCabe was shown a yellow card for East Stirlingshire as he fouled Paul McManus who was setting off on a breakaway. Mark Whatley who must be strong contender for player of the year made the easy transition to right back and allowed his central defenders to find him to get the ball from the back up to Bobby Linn or his strikers all evening with his slick distribution. Arbroath again pushed on as they held onto the ball and a move between Carreiro and Murray broke down as they made their way into the box as East Stirlingshire packed the box with 7 players defending.

The attempts on the East Stirlingshire goal kept on coming with a great run from deep by Whatley who powered on past several players only for his shot to be a little too high. Arbroath’s best chance came through a combination of McManus and Murray. Paul came a little deeper and picked up the ball on the left wing and has he ran towards goal he struck a fine shot from 20 yards out only for Barnard to save it, but as he spilled the shot Simon Murray followed up and slide in to hit the ball from a very acute angle but it proved to be too tight with his effort hitting the post and out for a goal kick. Arbroath kept up the momentum with a series of three corner kicks but just couldn’t find the net.

More pressure was to come as Simon Murray had a shot from a tight angle this time from the right side of goal but again Barnard was able to dive down to save. Arbroath’s final chance of the half was from the impressive Keiran Stewart who picked up the ball and ran forward and after beating Greene found himself in the centre of the goal where he unleashed a shot but again Arbroath were denied.

Half time – Arbroath 0 – 0 East Stirlingshire

As the teams came out for the second half East Stirlingshire made the first change with ex Lichtie Michael Wallace replacing David McKenna. It had been a flawless first half from Arbroath. The team looked back to its best and full of energy and drive with the defence not having put a foot wrong, but it was just the lack of a goal which you thought was only a matter of a time in coming and as the second half kicked off the push and drive continued.

Bobby Linn danced his way past two challenges as he got into shooting position in the box but again a sea of black and white shirts were blocking or getting in the way of everything Arbroath threw at them. The chance that Arbroath had been waiting for somehow again was kept out. Paul McManus broke free on the right and he found Simon Murray who shot but a combination of two defenders on the line, the keeper and another defender sliding in on Murray the ball somehow was saved in a real scramble only to fall to Paul McManus whose snap shot was just inches over. Again the heads didn’t go down and next Adam Hunter show from distance making Barnard to save.

East Stirlinghire made their second changed with Ross Gilmour replacing Chris Townsley. Brave goalkeeping by Richard Barnard who rushed out head the ball away again denied Arbroath as kept the Shire in their own half. Simon Murray forced a save from Barnard as his header bounced down and up towards goal. David Greenhill came on for East Stirlingshire for Bill Vidler before Murray had another header towards goal this time just too high before he was replaced by Jack Smith.

Jack Smith was fouled almost immediately with his first touch which allowed Dylan Carreiro to swing a ball into the box which Liam Gordon met with a diving header at the back post but again Barnard was there to save. East Stirlingshire in a rare break won a corner and as Greenhill’s corner was swung in Ross Gilmour who had run in glanced a header past McCallum to stun everyone apart from the handful of Shire supporters who had made the long trip up.

Arbroath made their second change with Thomas Grant replacing Adam Hunter before Kevin Buchan replaced Paul McManus. David Bates was shown a yellow card for a foul on the right wing on Jack Smith. As the clock ticked down Arbroath rallied but without McManus and Murray the midfield seemed over run and although Whatley tried to rally them forward with the best chance in the final minutes falling to Kevin Buchan but his chance couldn’t get passed Barnard either.