ARBROATH 1 Linn (73)

MORTON 0

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell admits he was thinking about hauling off Bobby Linn moments before the winger stepped up to blast home a spectacular free kick to earn the Lichties the three points.

Until that moment of magic, this game looked destined to end goalless, both sides slugging away at each other like two heavyweight boxers but with neither looking capable of landing the killer knockout blow.

Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Tom O’Brien was tripped by Cameron Blues 25 yards from goal and veteran hitman Linn took centre stage to send the resultant free kick powerfully beyond Sam

Ramsbottom and into the top corner of the net.

Campbell said: “I thought Morton had the better chances in the game but it took a spectacular piece of skill from Bobby Linn to win it. I don’t know how many times he has done that, and not only for Arbroath, but I’m just glad he was in my team today.

“I was actually just thinking about taking him off because it was one of those games where we were having to dig in and maybe settle for a point.”

There was little doubt that Linn’s strike was the highlight of a hard-fought encounter which wasn’t lacking in endeavour but was perhaps a bit light on refined skills. The Cappielow side could have gone ahead midway through the first half but Peter Grant fired well over from close range after an earlier effort came off Derek Gaston’s left-hand post.

Arbroath eked out one or two half-chances as well, Miko Virtanen finishing weakly after a great run from Scott Stewart.

But it was always going to take something special to split the teams and that came courtesy of Linn’s sublime effort in the 75th minute.

Morton boss David Hopkin said: “We knew it would be a tough game. It had 0-0 written all over it but they had one shot on target in the second half.

“It was a well struck effort, but the keeper has to do better.

“We should have been two up in the first half and even in the second half we had chances. We deserved a point.”