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Arbroath verdict: Player ratings, star man and key moments as Ayr defeat sees Lichties slump to bottom

Ian and Dick Campbell on the touchline against Hamilton. Image: SNS
Ian and Dick Campbell on the touchline. Image: SNS

Arbroath have fallen to the bottom of the Championship after a 2-0 defeat to Ayr United at Gayfield.

A Ben Dempsey penalty midway through the second half opened the scoring then Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, who won the spot kick, sealed the points with a stunning strike in the dying moments.

The Lichties afternoon was made even worse thanks to events in Hamilton, with the Accies staging a remarkable comeback against Cove, to see them go one point ahead of the Angus side.

Courier Sport takes a look at some the action from Gayfield.

Key moments

Arbroath’s first effort on goal came on 10 minutes and it was their main man Bobby Linn with the short.

The veteran winger cut in from the right and curled a left footed shot from 20 yards.

Charlie Albinson in the Ayr goal could only watch as the effort crashed off his far post before his defence managed to clear their lines.

A dejected Bobby Linn after Dundee scored their third of the night.
Arbroath’s Bobby Linn had a number of chances. Image: SNS

The Honest Men quickly found their feet in the game and came close through Josh Mullin but Keaghan Jacobs was on hand to bail out his side with a last ditch tackle.

From the resulting corner Brad Young headed in to the side netting from a tight angle.

The visitors then began to take hold of the game and looked certain to open the scoring but for Ricky Little.

The Lichties skipper won the ball with a last-ditch tackled just as Young was about to pull the trigger with just Derek Gaston to beat inside the box.

Arbroath were hanging on for half-time when Young had another effort on goal.

Scott Allan was caught in possession before the ball was played to the Ayr forward whose powerful effort on the edge of the box was parried away by Gaston.

Little and Colin Hamilton had a couple of chances for the home side but neither side could break the deadlock in the opening period.

Arbroath started the second half a bit sharper with Jacobs have a couple of shots from distance. His first was blocked while the other never troubled the keeper.

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell. Image: SNS
Arbroath boss Dick Campbell. Image: SNS

The game turned in to a bit of a midfield battle but on 64 minutes, the Lichties carved up their best chance of the match.

Substitute Daniel Fosu found his way in to the box, playing in Allan. The playmaker could have had a shot himself but spotted Linn bursting in to the box.

His fierce shot looked goal-bound but the Ayr keeper pulled of a stunning save at the near post to deny him his sixth goal of the season.

Just as Arbroath were looking to grab a deserved opener, the visitors were awarded a penalty.

Substitute Jayden Mitchell-Lawson was brought down in the box by Hamilton’s clumsy challenge.

Up stepped Ben Dempsey who found the bottom left corner to slot past Gaston.

Arbroath pushed for an equaliser but no goal was forthcoming for the home side.

And they were punished in the dying moments when Mitchell-Lawson worked a wonderful solo goal to secure the points for the table-topping side.

Arbroath star man – Marcel Oakley

There were not many standout performers in the home side, however Marcel Oakley showed real promise.

He looked solid at the back but was also a big threat going forward.

The Birmingham loanee found his way into the Ayr box on numerous occasions and even saw an effort on goal saved.

Player ratings

Gaston 7; Oakley 7, Little 7, Bitsindou 7 (Fosu 6), Hamilton 6; Jacobs 6 (Hancock 5), Gold 6, Tait 6 (Corfe 4), Allan 7, Linn 7; McKenna 6.

Subs not used: Gill, Hilson, Shanks, Isiaka.

Manager under the microscope

Not for the first time this season, Dick Campbell was forced into changes due to injury.

Skipper Tam O’Brien missed out, as did Scott Stewart.

Dale Hilson, who pulled out in last week’s warm-up, returned to the bench.

That saw David Gold and Keaghan Jacobs return to the starting XI.

The Lichties boss was forced in to his first change on 56 minutes with the injured Bitsindou replaced by Daniel Fosu.

On 79 minutes, Mason Hancock replaced Jacobs.

Three minutes later Dylan Tait made way for Deri Corfe.

Man in the middle – Graham Grainger

Graham Grainger didn’t have too much to do at Gayfield.

His biggest call was to award Ayr their penalty midway through the second half.

In truth, it was probably the easiest decision he had to make all game as Hamilton was sold a dummy and clearly fouled Mitchell-Lawson.

Arbroath bookings: Bitsindou (45),

Ayr bookings: McAllister (45),

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