East Region - North District League

Match Report: Arbroath Vics  v  Blairgowrie  28th Aug 2010

Having lost out to Tayport in the semi-final of the D.J. Laing League Cup last midweek, and seen their opening league match away to Dundee North End abandoned, Arbroath Vics were hoping for better luck when they entertained Blairgowrie in a league fixture at Ogilvy Park on Saturday. There were recalls to the starting line-up for Gavin Norrie, Steven Florence and David McLeish, the latter two having missed the Tayport match through injury.  Craig Sturrock, Scott McDowell and Ryan Low were the three left out.

Blairgowrie, having been relegated from the Premier League, having spent two years in the division, were amongst the favourites to make a swift return to the higher level. Indeed, it was Blairgowrie who created the first chance when Jamie Duncan and Gary Axworthy combined to allow the former to send an angled drive just wide of Chris Cargill’s right hand post.

Vics first real effort on target came when Lee Jones picked up a Kevin Laing throw-in on the left and crossed into the box for David McLeish to get in a header, but it was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper, Mark Nugent. A couple of minutes later, Gary Mackie sent a pass forward to Gary Axworthy, who pushed it into the box for Euan Murray, but Stuart Richardson managed to block the ball away before it was cleared out of the danger area. A fine Vics move involving Craig Anderson, Lee Jones and David McLeish saw Matthew Gove try an ambitious overhead kick from inside the area, but he failed to connect properly and the ball sliced off his foot and out towards the touchline.

Garry Warren should have put Vics in front in the 13th minute when he latched on to a Gavin Norrie pass that saw two other players in an offside position.  The Blairgowrie defence stopped playing as the referee waved play on but he shot tamely past the post as Mark Nugent closed down the angle. A minute later, Vics were caught napping when Blairgowrie took the lead.  A quickly taken free-kick allowed Darren Neave to swing over a cross from the left and EUAN MURRAY was given time and space to direct a header into the opposite corner of the net. Darren Neave then fired in a long-range effort which took a deflection, but Chris Cargill got his body behind the ball to make the save.

Within four minutes, Vics were back on level terms.  Garry Warren swung over a corner, which looked to have been cleared, but when Vics won the ball back, Lee Jones turned it across the six-yard box where MATTHEW GOVE arrived to side foot it into the goal. Matthew Gove found his name in the referee’s book soon after for a foul on Mark Brash, while Blairgowrie’s Richard Robertson also had his name noted for getting involved. Gavin Norrie was next to have a go for Vics, firing off a shot from distance, which Mark Nugent blocked on the six-yard line.

In the 33rd minute, Garry Warren sent Lee Jones away up the left and when he cut the ball back into the box, Matthew Gove got on the end of it, but he was tackled by Scott McCabe as he shot, and the ball ran through to the keeper. With six minutes of the half remaining, Vics scored to take a 2-1 lead into the interval.  Kevin Laing began the move releasing Garry Warren up the left and when he cut into the box, his angled drive bounced back into play off the inside of the post.  MATTHEW GOVE was first to the rebound, and although his shot was hacked clear, the referee was on the spot to see that it had crossed the line to award the goal.

                                                                      Half-time: Arbroath Vics 2   Blairgowrie 1

Vics were first to show after the interval when Lee Jones sent over a tempting free-kick from the left after Garry Warren had been impeded, and Gavin Norrie blasted a shot over the bar after his cross had been headed out of the box. Another fine move, this time down the right saw David McLeish set up a chance for Lee Jones who turned his marker to get in a shot, which rolled just wide of the far post.

Vics had started the second half well and notched a third goal following a great move in the 54th minute.  Garry Warren hit a great crossfield ball out to David McLeish on the right and when he squared it into the box for LEE JONES he gathered it in before placing a shot beyond Mark Nugent. Both teams made changes shortly after with Vics replacing Kevin Durno with Matty Johnston and Blairgowrie sending on Steven Findlay and Ryan Menzies for Scott McCabe and Darren Neave.

Kevin Laing and Euan Murray both received yellow cards following an altercation on the by-line, which resulted in a Blairgowrie free-kick, which came to nothing. Despite Vics having the bulk of possession, Blairgowrie came close to snatching a goal back in the 61st minute.  Euan Murray sent the ball out wide to Gary Axworthy who got beyond Kevin Laing before drilling a low cross across the face of goal, which Jamie Duncan, sliding in at the back post just failed to reach. Midway through the half, Vics made their second change of the afternoon when Ryan Low was sent on for Kevin Laing.

Chris Cargill had not had much to deal with in the second period, but he had to be alert to beat away a fierce strike from Jamie Duncan before gathering the ball in as it bounced away from him. Vics came close to scoring again two minutes later when Matty Johnston swung over a dangerous cross, which eluded Mark Nugent, and Garry Warren nodded the ball back across the six-yard line, but there was no one in place to turn it into the empty net and Richard Robertson was able to clear his lines.

Yet another cross from Matty Johnston had the Blairgowrie back line in bother and when Garry Warren’s header was blocked from close range, Ryan Low scooped the rebound over the bar from seven yards. Mark Brash was the next player to be booked, having his name noted for dissent. Chris Cargill then spilled a Gary Axworthy corner and when the ball dropped at the feet of Mark Christison, he looked sure to score until a great block from Steven Florence sent his effort spinning over the bar.  Chris Cargill felt he had been impeded and was booked for making a comment towards the referee. Despite that, Vics looked more like adding to their lead and when Lee Jones curled a cross into the Blairgowrie defence, Ryan Low, coming in at the back post, just failed to get a touch and the ball drifted wide.

Mark Brash was similarly unlucky at the other end when a Euan Murray cross just eluded him as he stretched out a leg to try and convert. Further substitutions saw Vics replace Matthew Gove with Scott McDowell and Blairgowrie send on Derek Adam for Gary Mackie. Vics thought they had increased their lead in the 85th minute when Scott McDowell and Lee Jones worked their way through the Blairgowrie defence but Mark Nugent got enough of a foot on the ball to prevent Lee Jones’ effort from crossing the line, and although Ryan Low applied the finishing touch he was clearly offside and the “goal” was disallowed. In the final minute, however, Vics completed a good afternoon’s work with a fourth goal.  Craig Anderson sent Garry Warren racing down the left and when he crossed to the far post, Ryan Low headed the ball back for LEE JONES to sweep the ball beyond Mark Nugent.

Teams:
Arbroath Vics:  1 Chris Cargill  2 Stuart Richardson  3 Kevin Laing (sub 14 Ryan Low 65 mins)  4 Gavin Norrie  5 Kevin Durno (sub 15 Matty Johnston 55 mins)  6 Steven Florence  7 David McLeish  8 Craig Anderson  9 Matthew Gove (sub 12 Scott McDowell 83 mins)  10 Lee Jones  11 Garry Warren.  Unused subs: 16 Colin Lawson  17 Craig Sturrock  Gk Steve Reid.

Blairgowrie:  1 Mark Nugent  2 Gary Mackie (sub 16 Derek Adam 84 mins)  3 Scott McCabe (sub 12 Steven Findlay 56 mins)  4 Richard Robertson  5 Mark Christison  6 Keith Dewar  7 Euan Murray  8 Mark Brash  9 Jamie Duncan  10 Gary Axworthy  11 Darren Neave (sub 14 Ryan Menzies 56 mins).  Unused subs: 15 Gordon Pirie  17 Gordon O’Brien.

Referee: Mr. K. Beats (Finavon).

Vics face another difficult fixture this Saturday when they are away to Dundee Violet, who only just lost out to Broughty Athletic in the title race last season, in a league fixture.  Kick-off is at 2.30 p.m., and players are asked to meet at Ogilvy Park at 12.45 p.m.