The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
No goals but plenty of Lichties support
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n impressive 2,410 packed into Gayfield as Red Lichties faced one of the biggest nights in their 143-year history.
Victory over Killie would complete a remarkable rise up 28 league places from where they were when Dick Campbell took over in March 2016.
Back then, Arbroath were languishing second bottom of League Two and in danger of dropping into the Pyramid play-offs.
But their rise to the top has been incredible and seen crowds flocking to Gayfield.
With more than 1,800 home fans, their support was treble the average it was in 2016.
And the hosts were determined to give their supporters a night to remember.
Once again, man of the moment Joel Nouble was proving a real handful for the hosts and he twice came close to opening the scoring for Arbroath.
Nouble, on loan from Livingston, dazzled the Killie defence on 11 minutes as he broke into the box and cracked a low effort off the base of the post.
Moments later, the London-born star’s byline trickery allowed him to cross for Tam O’Brien, with the defender’s effort pushed away by Zach Hemming.
Kilmarnock had plenty of the ball but created very little, aside from an early Brandon Haunstrup longranger as the sides went in 0-0 at the break.
Arbroath were shooting into their favourite
Pleasureland End of Gayfield in the second half with their fans tightly packed in behind that goal.
And they took the game to the visitors with O’Brien flashing a header wide and James Craigen having an effort turned round by Zach Hemming.
O’Brien then came even closer as he cut in from the left and had a low shot blocked by Hemming’s legs.
Derek Gaston then produced a stunning instinctive save to deny Oli Shaw from 10 yards.
Campbell hailed his side’s performance – and the support from the townsfolk of Arbroath,
“Does that not send a clear message to everyone?” he asked.
“We are not there by fluke. We are there because we are a good unit.
“I’m very happy and I’m sure all our fans will be happy too.
“What a great crowd! 2,500? That’s like 80,000 at Hampden! It’s a lovely place to be and Arbroath is a thriving football team right now.”
Arbroath: Gaston; Chris Hamilton, Colin Hamilton, Little, O’Brien, Low, Stewart (Hilson 76), McKenna, Henderson, Nouble, Craigen. Subs not used: Antell; Linn, Paterson, Donnelly, Clark, Dowds.
Kilmarnock: Hemming; Haunstrup, Murray, McKenzie (McGinn 68, Alston, Shaw, Robinson (Cameron 68), Murray, Lyons, Naismith, McGowan. Subs not used: Walker; McGinn, Armstrong, Sanders, Waters, Polworth, Cameron.
Referee