The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lichties turn on the style to thrash City
LEAGUE ONE: Campbell praises ‘first-class’ display as Arbroath dominate derby clash
BRECHIN CITY 1 ARBROATH 5
Arbroath turned in a five-star performance to defeat Angus neighbours Brechin City 5-1 at Glebe Park.
It was an outstanding team performance from the Red Lichties who completely dominated proceedings from start to finish, and assistant boss Ian Campbell was absolutely delighted not just with the victory but the manner in which it was achieved.
“I thought that we went about our work tremendously,” he said.
“We were super in the first half and came in at the interval 1-0 up and you’re always a wee bit worried when there’s only one goal in it.
“However, we came out for the second half and kept the performance levels up.
“We chased and harried, we didn’t give the opposition any time on the ball and we scored a further four goals which was extremely pleasing.
“It was a first-class performance, individually, collectively, when we had the ball and when we didn’t have the ball and I’m just delighted with the way our boys went about their work.”
The Lichties dominated right from the first whistle and they grabbed the opening goal after just eight minutes when David Gold rose above the home defence to head home a Jason Thomson cross, but despite their almost total control, they had only a one-goal lead to show for their efforts at the interval.
However, it was a different story after the break as the rampant Lichties took City apart.
Bobby Linn doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when he drilled home a right-foot drive and the visitors added a third goal just seven minutes later when Michael McKenna weaved his way past four City defenders before slotting the ball into the top corner of the net.
Further goals from Ryan Wallace and Thomson followed before City grabbed a late consolation through Ryan McGeever with 10 minutes remaining.
City boss Barry Smith said: “We were tremendous last week when we scored four against Forfar but I saw the other side of the team today and it’s a side I don’t want to see again.
“I thought that we were excellent last week against Forfar but today we’d too many not playing at the level we’d expect and falling short of the level they showed the previous week, and it’s now up to them to raise the performance levels to what I know they’re capable of.”
I’m just delighted with the way our boys went about their work.
IAN CAMPBELL