Marvellous Mike at double to end Jags’ unbeaten run
ARBROATH 3
Mckenna (45, 54), Low (58)
PARTICK THISTLE 1
Hamilton (32 OG)
Arbroath manager Dick Campbell was thrilled with Arbroath’s emphatic victory which brought Partick Thistle’s unbeaten league record to a shuddering halt.
The Lichties went behind after the half-hour mark through a Colin Hamilton own goal but got back on level terms just before the break with a Michael Mckenna free-kick. Mckenna headed the Lichties into the lead early in the second half before Nicky Low sealed the points with a third shortly afterwards.
Campbell said: “No one would deny we deserved to win the game.
“In fact, I feel we should have won all three of our league games this season. But, I’m happy that we’ve made a reasonable start, and we are lying fourth which is fine.
“Partick will be a test for anyone in this league but I felt we more than matched them. We played some great and exciting stuff.
It’s important to do well, especially in front of the home fans.”
The Lichties’ supremo wasn’t prepared, however, to make any predictions as to how his side might fare over the entire campaign.
He said: “All I’m interested in doing is making sure we stay in this league. No parttime club has done it for three years. But I feel we have a stronger squad than last season so let’s see where it takes us.”
Both sides made an enterprising start with Arbroath’s Mckenna firing over the top while Thistle’s Scott Tiffoney saw his low drive blocked by Derek Gaston inside the opening five minutes.
The Jags took the lead just after the half hour mark when Kyle Turner made a surging run into the box. His left-foot shot was expertly blocked by Gaston but rebounded into the path of the unfortunate Colin Hamilton who could only watch in horror as the ball spun off him and into the net.
But the Lichties responded and on the stroke of halftime Joel Nouble won a freekick 20 yards out. Mckenna stepped forward to curl the ball beyond Harry Stone.
Zak Rudden had the ball in the back of the net shortly after the break but it was ruled out for a foul and a couple of minutes later Arbroath went ahead. Nouble did well to work an opening on the left and crossed for Mckenna to head home.
It was all over four minutes later when Low latched on to a poor clearance from Stone to fire low beyond the keeper for Arbroath’s third.
Thistle boss Ian Mccall was unhappy with a key decision referee Grant Irvine made when the score was still 1-1.
He said: “Rudden had the ball in the net and it was never a foul. That could have changed the whole game as we would have gone ahead at that point. Then they scored shortly afterwards, so I’m disappointed about that.”
Mccall also refused to lay blame at the hands of keeper Stone who he felt was at fault for two of Arbroath’s goals.
He said: “He’s a young goalkeeper with a lot of promise so I’m not going to hang him out to dry over it. Hopefully he will learn from this experience and be better for it.”