Arbroath 5-1 Queen of the South 

Dick Campbell’s Arbroath came back from behind to emphatically defeat Queen of the South 5-1 at Gayfield, putting the Championship title back into their own hands. 

 

Arbroath travel to Ayrshire on Friday night, knowing that a win against Kilmarnock would put them top of the table by a point with just 1 game to go.

 

However, whilst there was jubilation for the home side, today’s defeat all but consigns the visitors to relegation. Willie Gibson’s side are now 9 points from 9th place, with 3 games to go. It would require a miracle to overhaul Ayr United now. 

 

Queen of the South got off to a good start, taking advantage of a lacklustre and frantic opening 15 minutes from Arbroath. The Dumfriesshire outfit took the lead just 12 minutes into the game, with an inviting Debayo cross into the area being headed into the back of the net by Alistair Roy, who rose highest in the box and flicked past Gaston. 

 

Arbroath responded well to going down. The home side knew what was at stake and threw bodies forward in an attempt to draw themselves level. Nicky Low was first to go close, with a free-kick from around 25 yards out going just over. The keeper was beaten but unfortunately for Low he could not keep it down after lifting it over the wall.

 

Colin Hamilton then drew his side level 25 minutes in. McKenna slotted through Hamilton with an outside of the boot pass, he then took a nice touch on the edge of the box before unleashing a lovely strike across goal and into the roof of the net. A great goal to equalise. 

 

It was Low once again looking to get on the scoresheet and the midfield maestro almost had the ball in the back of the net. His strong effort on goal was more than enough to test the keeper, with Rae just managing to palm it clear. 

 

The home side then had a serious penalty claim. A cross into the box appeared to strike the arm of Debayo inside the area. However, to the ire of the Arbroath team and the crowd, the linesman ignored their protests, despite being in a good position to see the offence. No penalty. 

 

Arbroath had the ball in the back of the net for the second time of the afternoon 37 minutes into the match. Jack Hamilton pounced on a loose ball in the box, reacting quicker than the Queens’ defence and firing home to put his side in command of the game, once they had the lead they never looked back.

 

Queen of the South had a chance to equalise just on the verge of half-time. It was Alistair Roy once again, with the Striker heading another effort on goal. However, this time around it was straight at Gaston who caught it easily.

 

After a shaky opening 15 minutes, Arbroath were well on top of this game now and had the goals to show for it. Queen of the South had looked good in spells, but were ultimately second best for most of the opening 45 and looked pretty open at the back. 

 

Half-Time: Arbroath 2-1 Queen of the South

 

Just 3 minutes into the half Arbroath had a decent chance to extend their lead. A Nicky Low corner into the box was headed back across the face of goal, but no Arbroath player was able to connect and ultimately the ball went out for a goal kick.

 

54 minutes in and the home side had doubled their advantage. A good Low delivery into the area was turned in by Queen of the South Striker Innes Cameron, who saw the ball late and attempted to steer it away from goal, instead nodding into the back of his own net. 

 

Cameron then had a chance to redeem himself from a corner just 4 minutes later. A whipped cross into the box found the Kilmarnock loanee free in the middle, but his header at goal struck the bar and went over. 

 

Just before the hour mark Arbroath had their 4th goal, and what a way to get it. It was Jack Hamilton again, who confirmed his brace in style. The 21 year old took a neat touch, turning QOTS player/manager Willie Gibson just outside of the box, creating space to set himself before hitting a sweet strike into the top corner, leaving Rae with no chance. Absolutely the best goal of the game.

The visitors then had a few half-chances to pull a goal back in quick succession. Substitute Samuel Folarin did well on the counterattack, bursting down the wing at pace and cutting it back across the area, with Little managing to deflect it behind for a corner. From the following set play Darragh O’Connor was unmarked at the back post, but his header went wide of the goal.

 

Queens had another chance to score 5 minutes from time, with Connelly playing McKechnie through on goal. His shot was well saved by Gaston who denied the attack a consolation goal.

 

Arbroath were in a rampant mood and substitute Bobby Linn in particular was on top form. Linn had a chance to score 87 minutes in, with the Litchies’ legend managing to bypass Gibson inside the area, taking it round the defence and firing on goal. Rae managed to pull off a solid save to block his shot, turning it behind for a corner. 

 

Jack Hamilton came close to a hat-trick soon after. However, it would only be a brace for Arbroath’s number 20, who struck the side netting with a powerful low strike at goal. The crowd behind the goal thought it had gone in! 

 

1 minute into stoppage time and Arbroath had their 5th goal of the game. Substitute James Craigen would wrap up the scoring for his side. Linn skipped past Gibson and sent an inviting cross to the back post, James Craigen was free at the back post to powerfully head the ball into the back of the net.

 

Arbroath were well in control of that second 45 minutes, with a bumper crowd of over 2400 fans certainly not disappointed. Some great football on show and plenty of goals for the home side who absolutely deserved all 3 points.

 

Full-Time: Arbroath 5-1 Queen of the South

 

Arbroath were great value for their 5 goals, and a ruthless second half display will be pleasing for Dick Campbell - his side will need that killer instinct in the final 2 games of the season. It is still all to play for and if they can take maximum points from those games, they will win the title and with it promotion to the top flight. 

 

On the flip side, this result all but confirms relegation for the Doonhamers. Willie Gibson’s side were too sloppy in defence and despite showing plenty of fight in recent weeks, failure to win today combined with Dunfermline Athletic’s triumph over Ayr United means that anything less than 9 points from 3 games will see Queen of the South playing League One football next campaign.