Annan5–1Arbroath

There would be no away day party for Arbroath as Annan Athletic gave their hopes of avoiding the relegation playoff a boost with a thumping 5-1 win at Galabank.

Billy King had given the Lichties the lead in the first half, but the home side came back strongly, firing in five without reply, to move within one point of Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the bottom end of the table.

Having secured the league title with last weekends victory over Stenhousemuir, the co-managers decided to ring the changes, with no less than eight alterations. Only Aaron Muirhead, Jack Wilkie and Ryan Flynn kept their place in the starting line-up.

The Lichties started brightly and had two chances early on. Calum Gallagher was first to go close, reacting quickly to a flick on to head goalwards, with Jamie Smith able to easily hold, before Kieran McKechnie raced onto a long ball and fired a strong shot just past the post.

On 17 minutes, the champions would take the lead thanks to a first goal for the club for King. Gallagher did well to win a flick on, with the winger on hand to control and calmly roll the ball into the corner of the net.

Annan found themselves level just beyond the half hour mark however, as the Lichties switched off from a set-piece. Ryan Flynn had done well to stop a cross, but from the resultant corner, Paul Smith was left totally unmarked just inside the box to fire Willie Gibson’s pass beyond Jack McConnell.

That goal gave the home side another burst of life, and they were handed the chance to move in front from the penalty spot, when Aaron Steele brought down Josh Dixon in the area. Gibson stepped up to take the kick and saw his effort saved by McConnell, but Tommy Muir was on hand to knock home the rebound.

The second half began with Annan again looking dangerous going forward, but it was Arbroath who should have found the net just over ten minutes after the restart. Gallagher was able to capitalise on a missed clearance by Dixon to race through on goal, but his shot was well thwarted by Jamie Smith.

On 61 minutes though, Annan would find the games fourth goal with Tommy Muir again on the scoresheet. A cross from the right looked destined to be McConnell’s, but Muir came rising in to beat the keeper to the ball, finding the net despite claims of a foul.

Arbroath were pressing for a way back into the game and a driving run from Sam Stanton looked like it could do that, but the midfielder went tumbling as he took a fresh air swipe at the ball, with Annan breaking quickly down the other end and scoring a fourth through Luca Ross’ low effort.

Andy Winter had a half chance that he headed wide before Stanton struck a shot over the bar, while Ross dragged one wide at the other end as the goalmouth action continued, and it wouldn’t be long before another goal was added. Muir again challenged McConnell for the ball in the air, but Arbroath could only half clear the danger, allowing Ross to bend another goal into the top corner.

A late Aaron Brown red card for two bookings within ten seconds following an altercation with Keith Watson, didn’t have any real impact on the game and Arbroath will be hoping this was just a blip, ahead of next week’s trip to Inverness.