Arbroath 2 – 1 Ayr United – Match Report
Ladbrokes Championship – Game 08 – Season 2020 / 2021
Saturday 19th December 2020, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, 3.00pm kick off
Match Sponsor – Colin M Smith – https://www.colinmsmith.com/
Arbroath got back to winning ways at Gayfield on Saturday when they picked up a well deserved win over Ayr United.
Arbroath Manager changed his usual formation opting for a 4-4-2 and from the off it looked like a good decision after Luke Donnelly did well down the left wing and Michael McKenna forced on-loan Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo to make his first save after just 2 minutes.
This same fixture was abandoned at half time back in February due to strong winds and Arbroath were enjoying having a similar wind at their backs as Ayr United really struggled to make much impression going forward.
A foul by Miko Virtanen on Luke McCowan gave Joe Chalmers the chance to hit a free kick in the 13th minute but his effort was high and over Derek Gaston’s bar in the 13th minute.
Dale Hilson tried his luck from a free kick at the other in the 25th minute but his 35 yard effort wasn’t struck cleanly and curled to the left of the goal.
A corner kick for Ayr United in the 26th minute was cleared before Aaron Murihead’s follow up was blocked before the ball fell to Cammy Smith whose shot from 25 yards was dragged well wide of the left hand post.
A Dale Hilson corner kick in the 27th minute had to be punched clear by Sinisalo as it heading directly towards goal. The resulting corner kick by Colin Hamilton was met by Thomas O’Brien but his header was over the bar.
Dale Hilson was in the mood and just two minutes later the tricky winger cut in from the left wing beating two defenders before unleashing a 16 yard drive which Sinisalo did well to get down and push round his post for yet another Arbroath corner kick.
It was the Arbroath of last season and in the 36th minute they made the break through. A poor goal kick from Sinisalo was picked up by McKenna who roared down the right wing.
He took a quick look before playing an inviting cross into the box which was met by the head of James Craigen whose header went in off the post for his first Arbroath goal.
That was only Arbroath’s 3rd goal in the Championship this season but they just had to wait 3 minutes for their second of the match.
A throw in by Hamilton found Hilson who did well to bide his time before crossing into the box. McKenna took a touch before finding Craigen who as he turned fired a low 8 yard strike into the far corner of the goal.
Arbroath should have had the match dead and buried just 3 minutes later. David Gold found Luke Donnelly who played a one-two with Dale Hilson but as Donnelly raced into the ball he hit the ball with his right foot and dragged it just past the post where as maybe a left foot shot would have landed in the net.
Half Time – Arbroath 2 – 0 Ayr United.
The first half was full of excellent performances from the home side with Donnelly and Craigen really leading by example but with Ayr United now having the advantage of the wind Arbroath were up against it.
As expected Ayr United game out all guns blazing and Michael Moffat and Luke McCowan were unlucky when they both hit the same post in a series of play.
Just two minutes later and from the same position, McCowan again came close this time just his shot just missed the post by inches.
As Ayr United pushed forward huge gaps started to appear in the Ayr midfield and defence and Arbroath had pace on their side and again were left ruing what could have been when Dale Hilson dragged a shot wide of the post in the 57th minute after the ball broke to him in front of goal.
Miko Virtanen who had returned to the side was having an exceptional game making several key tackles also tried his luck on goal but his 25 yard shot was wide of the goal.
Arbroath were looking like the side who were most likely to score again, with Dick Campbell bringing on 3 attack minded substitutes in the 84th minute as Michael Ruth, Scott Stewart and Kris Doolan replaced James Craigen, Dale Hilson and Luke Donnelly.
It took no time for Scott Stewart to show the Ayr United defence a clean pair of heels as he ran through on goal only and fired at Sinisalo who was unable to hold Stewart’s shot but just recovered in time to save the rolling ball from crossing the line.
At the other end Derek Gaston tipped a Dario Zanatta shot round his post as Ayr United made one last push. The corner kick was bundled into tieback of the net from Jack Baird from close range as the ball crashed off the underside of the cross bar and into the net with just 2 minutes left on the clock.
Arbroath were doing well to hold onto the ball but deep into injury time they robbed Ayr of possession and McKenna went on a run down the right wing. A neat ball found Ruth who looked up and unselfishly passed to Stewart who was ready to run down the keeper.
As Stewart was about to pull the trigger he was bundled off the ball by McCowan and with the referee just 6 feet away everyone in the ground was waiting for the whistle and for him to point to the spot but astonishingly he waved play on.
A long 5 minutes of injury time came and went before finally the full time whistle blew and Arbroath deservedly secured a much needed 3 points.
Full Time – Arbroath 2 – 1 Ayr United
C’mon the Lichties!
Possession – Arbroath 49% – 51% Ayr United
Total Shots – Arbroath 14 – 6 Ayr United
On Target – Arbroath 7 – 2 Ayr United
Off Target – Arbroath 5 – 3 Ayr United
Blocked – Arbroath 2 – 1 Ayr United
Corners – Arbroath 8 – 4 Ayr United
Fouls Committed – Arbroath 13 – 5 Ayr United
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
7 – David Gold
8 – Michael McKenna
28 – James Craigen (Stewart 84)
9 – Dale Hilson (Ruth 84)
15 – Luke Donnelly (Doolan 84)
22 – Miko Virtanen
Substitutes
10 – Gavin Swankie
11 – Bobby Linn
12 – Scott Stewart – 28; 84th
14 – Kris Doolan – 15; 84th
16 – Michael Ruth – 9 – 84th
17 – Connor Smith
21 – Scott Gallacher (GK)
Goals – Craigen 36, 39
Yellow Cards – Virtanen 58, Thomson 67, McKenna 86
Ayr United
1 – Viljami Sinisalo
4 – Aaron Muirhead
5 – Sam Roscoe
30 – Jack Baird (c)
3 – Patrick Reading
11 – Luke McCowan
14 – Cammy Smith (Zanatta 57)
6 – Andy Murdoch (Miller 74))
18 – Joe Chalmers
7 – Michael Moffat
9 – Bruce Anderson (McKenzie 69)
Substitutes
2 – Jordan Houston
8 – Michael Miller – 6; 74th
10 – Tom Walsh
19 – Dario Zanatta – 14; 57th
20 – Michael Hewitt
22 – Mark McKenzie – 9; 69th
21 – Ellis Hare-Reid (GK)
Goal – Baird 88
Yellow Card – C. Smih 94
Officials;
Referee – David Lowe
Assistant Referee 1- Ross McLeod
Assistant Referee 2 – Calum Doyle
