Arbroath made it a season’s clean sweep in the league today over Forfar Athletic as a goal by Thomas O’Brien at the end of the first half and a late strike by substitute Leighton McIntosh sealed all 3 points a horrendously wet afternoon at Gayfield.
Scott Martin, Danny Denholm, Ryan Wallace and keeper Ricky Gomes all made a return to the Arbroath line up with Leighton McIntosh, Gavin Swankie, Omar Kader and David Hutton dropping out.
Both sides thought they had scored in a very wet first half.
Ryan Wallace looked to have given Arbroath the lead in the 36th minute as a corner kick flew in past a crowd of players and into the Forfar net, but referee Gavin Duncan killed the Arbroath celebrations as he booked Ryan Wallace for handball.
At the other end Forfar had an effort chalked off for offside but on the stroke of half time Thomas O’Brien headed the ball down from a Ryan Wallace free kick which bounced and looped over McCallum in goal.
As O’Brien ran and celebrated he pointed up to the sky to dedicate his goal to his “Papa” who was sadly laid to rest this week.
Arbroath had the wind at their backs for the second half and it was one way traffic for the second half as the Lichties dominated the game.
Only the skills of goalkeeper Marc McCallum kept the score down but as the clocked ticked away there is always a nervousness when a single goal divides a game but thankfully substitute Leighton McIntosh kept up his fine scoring record at Gayfield and from close range hit the ball past McCallum from a Denholm cross in the 89th minute.
As the final whistle blew there was no doubt both sides were eager to get into the warm indoors to dry off but credit to the Lichties who braved the conditions and secured another fine win.
My man of the match would be Scott Martin. The on-loan Hibernian midfielder was unstoppable all afternoon. From intercepting the ball in midfield to surging forward with the ball at his feet he seemed to be everywhere. The 20 year-old looks to have a big future in the game.
