Arbroath set up a second division play-off derby final against Forfar with a 6-2 aggregate win over Queen’s Park.
Arbroath virtually booked their ticket to the final with the four away goals scored against The Spiders in the first leg and any remaining hopes of a second-leg fightback were snuffed out quickly.
After just two minutes the visitors’ defensive wall looked more like a sieve and Marc McCulloch’s free-kick found a gap to give keeper Mark McGeown no chance.
The swirling wind created problems for defenders Paul Gallacher and Robert Walker as they went for a high ball in the 15th minute and Mitch Megginson needed no second invitation to nip the ball from them, round the keeper and slot home to make it 6-0 on aggregate.
Arbroath’s second-half performance lacked the same bite, with their rhythm broken by substitutions to ensure fresh legs for the Forfar games.
Strong runs by Callum Booth and Steven Doris created half chances but it was Michael Daly who headed in Queen’s Park’s first off a corner in 57 minutes. In the 83rd minute they levelled when Alan Rattray’s attempt to clear a Barry Douglas cross glanced off his head and bulleted into his own net.
Although the windy conditions played a part in each of the goals and despite the 6-2 aggregate score, manager Jim Weir was disappointed at the manner in which goals were lost.
“Set-plays have been our biggest problem and they are a strength of the Forfar game, so we must be ready for them,” he said.
“We knew we were going to win and our game became a bit flat. Maybe the changes interrupted the rhythm but we should have won the game.
“On the positive side we are scoring goals and that is important. The Forfar games will be a big test physically but we have home advantage first.”