by David Dewar

 October 30^th 1948 v Ayr United (League) at Gayfield

ARBROATH:- McGraw, Fraser, McInnes, Collins, MacKenzie, Herron, McEwan, Quinn, Ross, Hill, Lang.

The game kicked off in a downpour on a sodden and muddy Gayfield Park and only 2500 spectators braved the weather that day. Round, in goal for the visitors, dived bravely at the feet of Ross to prevent the Arbroath centre forward from scoring. At the other end McGraw smothered a shot from Ramsay. A long clearance up-field by McGraw was chased by Ross who evaded a tackle from McNeil and fired in a great left footed volley. Round did well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

By the time the second half begun, the rain had finally stopped. Hill sent in a low cross that four Arbroath players in the box failed to connect with. But the Lichties finally broke the deadlock when McEwan bore down on the Ayr goal and his shot rebounded from Round. The Arbroath winger chased down the loose ball and lobbed it back across the face of the goal. LANG headed the ball into the net to give Arbroath the lead. Quinn almost grabbed a second goal when he got his head to McEwan's corner kick but he was just wide of the target.

In the final minute of the game, Ayr had a chance to level the game but Fraser twice cleared off the line to save the points for Arbroath.

Final Result – Arbroath 1 v Ayr United 0

McGraw moved on to Leicester City and helped them to reach their first ever FA Cup Final but he missed out on the final due to injury.

* No record of the Ayr Utd team available.

On 1^st November

1947 v Albion Rovers                A (League)        1-2 Hill

1952 v Dumbarton                     A (League)        5-5 Friel, Rennet 2, Gallagher, McBain

1958 v Brechin City                    A(League)         0-3

1975 v Dumbarton                     H (League)        1-5 MacKenzie

1980 v Meadowbank Thistle       H (League         0-1

1986 v Stranraer                        H (League)        1-4 Lynch (pen)

1997 v East Stirlingshire                        A (League)        2-1 Thomson (N) Grant

2003 v Berwick Rangers A (League)        0-3