Lichties pay for missed chances

ARBROATH 0 STRANRAER 1

It wasn’t the birthday present Arbroath manager Dick Campbell or twin Ian wanted.

The duo turned 65 on Thursday but any hopes of celebrating with a Scottish Cup victory over Stranraer were ended when the visitors grabbed an unexpected victory courtesy of Ian Smith’s 75th-minute strike.

Dick spent the second of his eight-game touchline ban watching from the stand while Ian took control in the dugout.

Arbroath dominated possession as might have been expected given the 20-point gulf between the sides in the League One table.

However, Stevie Farrell’s side applied their game plan to perfection. They defended in depth, soaked up the pressure then counter-attacked with pace and menace.

It was one of those breaks which provided the defining moment, Mark Lamont crossing to the far post where Smith expertly converted.

It was a body blow for the Lichties who had spurned chance after chance until that point, while visiting keeper Max Currie produced a string of excellent saves.

Ryan McCord, Bobby Linn, Ryan Wallace, Michael Mckenna and Danny Denholm all created wonderful opportunities, none of which was converted.

“We created enough chances to win two or three games but that’s football,” Ian Campbell said.

“I don’t think we deserved to get beat. We had chances but you have to take them,” he said.

“It’s disappointing for the fans, club and players but I wouldn’t criticise our players other than we might have kept possession better in the final third at times.

“But, we just need to put it behind us and move on.”