The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

Talking points about team that continues to look summit else

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Another week goes by and part-time Arbroath remain top of the Championsh­ip.

The Lichties now have a four-point lead over Inverness and Kilmarnock.

Three points in the gutsy comeback at Raith saw Arbroath return to winning after losing at Ayr as goals from Jack Hamilton and Nicky Low sank Rovers.

Courier Sport was at Stark’s Park and here are three talking points:

NO NOUBLE, DOWDS, MCKENNA? PROBLEM!

Arbroath went into the game without three players who have been key men.

Joel Nouble returned to Livingston and Anton Dowds returned to Falkirk. In addition, top scorer Michael Mckenna was ruled out by Covid.

But this is a team game and there are plenty of players willing to step up to the plate.

A star on the day was Nicky Low. The midfielder had not started a game since a horrific injury in September ruled him out for months.

Not only did he nearly complete the game, he bossed the midfield and stepped up to take the winning penalty.

FANS NO NO NO

The cruel reality of Arbroath’s recent success has been that their fans have not been allowed in to share some incredible moments.

It was an odd atmosphere at Stark’s

Park. Every time Arbroath pressed towards the opposition goal, it was met by deathly silence as the home fans feared what was to come.

In normal circumstan­ces, the noise from hopeful supporters would rise before erupting into cheers as the net burst.

But when Arbroath scored, it was eerily quiet. The only noise came from the celebratin­g players and the visiting directors.

Let’s just hope they can continue to bring more joy to the fans when they can celebrate with them.

40-POINT TARGET ACHIEVED – WHAT NEXT?

For months, Dick Campbell has said that 40 points was the target for Arbroath Football Club this season.

Those 40 points would ensure their Championsh­ip status for another year.

He would refuse to speculate on anything else until that target was met.

On Saturday, his side surpassed that 40 points target.

Dick Campbell left the post-match media duties to his brother, so he wasn’t there to answer the question of what’s next.

But the answer surely has to be the play-offs or even the title.

Regardless, whatever happens from now until the end of the season, this campaign will go down as their most successful ever – and we’re only halfway through.

 ?? ?? Jack Hamilton scores to make it 1-1 at Stark’s Park.
Jack Hamilton scores to make it 1-1 at Stark’s Park.

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