| Courier: Hapless Arbroath rue missed chances | ||||||
IT WAS better than last week but still not good enough for ARBROATH manager John McGlashan as his side lost 1-0 to Peterhead.
The visitors were first to try their luck when Martin Bavidge shot high and wide in the second minute. At the other end, some excellent defending by Stuart Smith prevented Arbroath striker Bryan Scott getting a clear run on goal. Barry Sellars came close with a well-taken free kick after Scott was fouled by Bobby Mann outside the area, but it was Neale Cooper's men who looked the most threatening. Mann headed into the side netting from a corner on the half hour mark then Lichties' keeper Darren Hill was required to tip a long range Dougie Cameron effort over the bar. The breakthrough came just seconds before the half-time whistle when David Ross opened the scoring after Hill could only parry the winger's initial shot back into his path. After the re-start Graeme Sharp came close to adding a second with a rising shot and Hill was called into action again when he made a point blank save from Neil McVitie with Cameron sending the rebound crashing off the bar. Cameron came close again before Mann had an effort blocked as the blue tide surged forward. Only further heroics by Hill stopped McVitie doubling the advantage after excellent set up play by Sharp. John Bateman proved just as worthy at the other end, keeping out a Scott header after a pinpoint cross from Steven Rennie. The match's final chance fell to Sharp but his shot was tired. McGlashan said, "We're on a bad run but there isn't a magic wand we can wave to get us out of it. "It was an improvement on last week but we can only get out of this poor run through hard work. It's very disappointing not to pick up any points at home games."
McGlashan said: "We're on a bad run but there isn't a magic wand we can wave to get us out of it. "It was an improvement on last week but we can only get out of this poor run through hard work." Ross fired the Blue Toon ahead on the stroke of half time after Arbroath failed to clear inside the area and the striker pounced from close range. Peterhead keeper Jon Bateman was in fine form and a series of great stops helped the visitors snatch the points. Balmoor boss Neale Cooper said: "We've been losing late goals recently so I'm pleased we held out for a win." McGLASHAN PLEDGE AS THIRD STRAIGHT LEAGUE LOSS GIVES LICHTIES CAUSE FOR CONCERNPeterhead grabbed some revenge at Arbroath for an earlier cup defeat - but Red Lichties manager John McGlashan was disappointed by the way in which the decisive goal was lost. He said: "We never defended the cross well enough. "It was an evenly balanced first half, but then we gave them something to defend. But we had chances in the final 15 or 20 minutes. "With a little bit of luck we may have got an equaliser and then who knows what might have happened. But we didn't score and we're disappointed not to take anything from our last three games. "We're on a bad run at the moment and there's no magic wand that we can touch them on the shoulder with and say we'll win the next game. It'll take hard work." McGlashan was pleased with the contribution made by Northern Ireland under-21 international Dermot McCaffrey, who has joined the Lichties on loan from Falkirk for one month. McGlashan said: "Dermot was great. His first touch was good. He put in some fine crosses and his distribution was good. He did everything we asked and he'll be an asset to us for the five games he's here." Peterhead manager Neale Cooper was relieved to pick up three points but would like to see his side become more clinical in front of goal. The Blue Toon celebrated their first away win of the season courtesy of a David Ross strike just before the interval but came under some late pressure from a Red Lichties side which has now lost three league games in a row. Cooper said: "It was frightening the number of chances we created but we've got to become more lethal. "It has been like that all season so far. We've battered teams but haven't taken our chances. "A number of players had some great opportunities and Graeme Sharp might have had a hat-trick. "It was a bit nervy towards the end. So, when it went into the three minutes of extra time, I just shut my eyes. But our goalkeeper John Bateman was excellent. He brought off couple of good saves. "I'm really pleased for the players and fans that we were able to hang on and get a result. I think we deserved it. We needed this as it will give us a bit of confidence." The crucial goal came on the stroke of half-time, Ross ramming the ball home after his first attempt cannoned back off Arbroath goalkeeper Darren Hill's chest. Peterhead spurned numerous chances to extend their lead, with Dougie Cameron twice clipping the woodwork and Neil McVitie forcing Hill to pull off a couple of outstanding saves. The Balmoor men's generosity in front of goal almost cost them dear in the final 20 minutes as Arbroath upped the tempo in an attempt to salvage something from the game. Bateman prevented an equaliser when he saved a point-blank range Bryan Scott header. Then Steve Hislop stumbled on the ball when it looked as though he would race through to score. | ||||||
