The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Lichties come from behind to claim draw
GAYFIELD: Ten-man Arbroath show real grit to come back from two-goal deficit
Ten-man Arbroath battled back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw to keep their League One play-off final hopes alive going into Saturday’s rematch at Hampden.
Indeed, with a little more luck, the Lichties might have been taking a lead to Glasgow following this thrilling encounter.
Arbroath boss Todd Lumsden said: “I thought we showed great character to come back especially after losing a man so early.”
The game started at a brisk tempo but it was the 13th minute before either side created a meaningful opening, with Arbroath’s Kieran McWalter heading narrowly over the bar.
Queen’s stunned the home crowd five minutes later, however, when Bryan Wharton rose unchallenged to bullet a Sean Burns corner into the net for the opening goal.
There was further misery for Arbroath in the 23rd minute when referee Craig Charleston sent off McWalter for a challenge on Burns.
Arbroath captain Kevin Nicoll was then booked for a foul on Vincent Berry.
It got even worse for Todd Lumsden’s men in the 36th minute when Burns surged into the box and Marc McCallum could only palm his shot into the path of Shaun Fraser who tapped home to make it 2-0.
Arbroath midfielder Dylan Carreiro then broke down the left and crossed for Bobby Linn but he headed wide.
The Lichties bounced back, however, and top scorer Simon Murray gave them hope just before the interval when he flicked the ball over Queen’s keeper Willie Muir to reduce the leeway.
The Lichties brought Scott McBride and Craig Johnstone on for Carreiro and Jordon Lowdon.
In the 56th minute Linn came close with a powerful effort that was deflected over the bar.
It was difficult to believe Arbroath were a man short as they did all the pressing, with Linn coming close again with a shot that cannoned of the bar.
The equaliser came in the 65th minute when Murray broke down the left and let fly with a low shot that Muir couldn’t stop.
Linn came close to grabbing what would have been a dramatic winner eight minutes from the end with a powerful shot that Muir did well to tip over the bar. Attendance: 837 Arbroath: McCallum, Little, Nicoll, Gordon, Lowdon (Johnstone 46), Linn, Whatley, Carreiro (McBride 46), Stewart, McWalter, Murray (Buchan 86). Subs not used: Smith, Grant, Lindsay, Wilson.
Queen’s Park: Muir, Mitchell, Quinn, Wharton, Burns, Berry, Slattery, Woods, Fraser (McPherson 66), Rooney, Carter. Subs not used: McElroy, George, Moore, MacGregor, McVey, Gibson.
Referee: Craig Charleston
I though it showed great character to come back, especially after losing a man so early. ARBROATH BOSS TODD LUMSDEN