Lichties strike keeps up the pressure at top of the table
Arbroath kept up the pressure on Kilmarnock at the top of the Championship with a hardfought victory at the Hope CBD Stadium.
Jack Hamilton slammed home the only goal of the game just before the hour mark to keep the Gayfield troops within four points of the Ayrshire side and set up a thrilling end to the season.
Lichties assistant boss Ian Campbell said: “We sorted things out at half-time. I thought we gave too much respect to the opposition, we needed to think about the way we play, where we want to play and how to get players forward.
“In the second half we grabbed the game and I thought we ran out good winners.
“Overall, the players deserve immense credit, their commitment and their effort. We are getting back to where we want to be again – I’m delighted for everyone.
“It will be a fantastic game against Queen of the South at our place next weekend and we will be up for our work.
“Kilmarnock have got a hard game up at Inverness as well, but they’ll look after themselves.
“As Dick says and as I say, we can only look after ourselves and it was a good win today against a good team.”
The match began in lively fashion, with chances at either end. Ricky Little made a vital interception to prevent Mihai Popsecu’s dangerous delivery reaching David Moyo, while Michael Mckenna and Jack Hamilton passed up opportunities for the visitors.
Moyo should have opened the scoring after 24 minutes when he found himself through on goal after a superb through ball from Kieran Macdonald, but the striker curled his effort wide of the target.
Accies began to take a grip on the proceedings, but were struggling to find the cutting edge to fashion an opener. Popescu headed past the post, before Moyo headed over from close range as the first half drew to a close.
Arbroath passed up a glorious chance to take the lead when Mckenna took advantage of some slack defending by Dan O’reilly and drilled the ball across the face of goal, but Jack Hamilton failed to connect.
The visitors broke the deadlock on 59 minutes when Chris Hamilton picked out Jack Hamilton and on this occasion the striker rifled his shot high into the net beyond Fulton.
The Accies fans were growing increasingly frustrated and their side almost fell 2-0 behind when Nicky Low’s cross beat the keeper only to land on the top of the net.
Chris Hamilton blazed over with eight minutes remaining, as Dick Campbell’s men comfortably saw out the closing minutes of game.
Accies slumped to seventh in the table after a disappointing afternoon and boss Stuart Taylor said: “I’m really frustrated and disappointed, more so about the second half, the first half was going fine.
“I thought we dominated the first half, we had them penned in and created chances, but didn’t make the goalkeeper work.
“Missing out on the play-off is a massive disappointment and we now need to react and try to finish as high up the table as we can.”