ARBROATH COAST TO WIN EVEN WITH LINN ON BENCH

ARBROATH moved into fourth place after they sent Queen of the South packing courtesy of goals from Dale Hilson and David Gold.

Scoring talisman Bobby Linn was again an unused substitute due to the recent fine form of January signings Hilson and

Craig Wighton.

Arbroath stormed into an early lead as Jason Thomson’s superb cross was headed home by Gold.

Queens were stung into action and home goalkeeper Derek Gaston had to get his fingertips to a net-bound Stephen Dobbie 30-yard free-kick to turn it around for a corner.

Moments later, Lee Kilday met a Dobbie corner but headed the ball off the post.

But as the half wore on, Arbroath began to dominate, and the second goal came on 36 minutes with Thomson again the architect.

His quick throw-in found Gavin Swankie, who cutback for Hilson to hammer home from six yards.

In the second half, Allan Johnston’s men tried to force their way back into the game, with substitute Jack Hamilton heading an Iain Wilson cross just wide and Dobbie going inches over with another long-range free-kick.

Wighton then missed a golden chance to net the hosts’ third and seal the victory as he pounced on a rebounded James Craigen effort only to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

‘We aren’t even thinking about where we are in the league and we haven’t set a points target,’ said Arbroath No2 Ian Campbell.

‘We don’t work like that, but we are where we are on merit.’

Queen of the South manager Johnston admitted: ‘We got what we deserved from the game — absolutely nothing.

‘Arbroath outfought us.’