Campbell gives critics what Forfar
Dick Campbell blasted back at the critics who had a pop at him for his summer raid on Forfar – after his Arbroath side strolled to a comfortable win over Queen’s Park.
Campbell’s new-look Red Lichties saw off the Spiders thanks to goals by Danny Denholm and Blair Yule on the day they unfurled the League Two title flag.
But with Angus rivals Forfar furious at Campbell for returning to his old club to sign three of their key players – Denholm, Gavin Swankie and Thomas O’Brien – the Arbroath manager said: “Some people are
Arbroath ...................... 2 Queen’s Park ............... 0
saying I have stolen players from Forfar but I need to put the record straight here.
“I signed Swankie, O’Brien and Denholm for Forfar in the first place and the fact they are now working with me here shows how highly I think of them. We have improved our squad.
“The players we’ve brought in are better than the ones who went out.”
Denholm got Arbroath off the
On-loan Hibs recruit Callum Crane was in the right place at the right time to produce a goal-line clearance from a Kyle Benedictus header as Raith pushed forward.
But it was Alloa who were enjoying the bulk of possession and Iain Flannigan was only inches away with a low drive.
The Wasps went in front after 16 minutes when Taggart fed the ball through to Cawley who fired into the corner from the edge of the box.
Raith hit back with Vaughan’s shot blocked by Andy Graham and with the ball loose, Greig Spence’s effort was saved mark when he flicked the ball beyond Queen’s Park keeper Willie Muir from 10 yards in 35 minutes.
Steven Doris then met a Bobby Linn cross to crack a header off the post as they hunted for more.
And Doris turned provider to cut back for Yule to drill a 15-yard strike home and help newly-promoted Arbroath get off to a flier.
Queen’s Park boss Gus MacPherson said: “It’s an old cliche but the first goal is crucial in football.
“We lost it and our heads went down against a very talented Arbroath side.”