Arbroath secured the bragging rights in the latest Angus derby after a deserved 1-0 win over Brechin last night.
Arbroath were worth the points and spent large spells of the game on top.
Both teams started brightly but it was the hosts who posed more of a threat up front.
They took the lead in the 14th minute when Keith Gibson fired a free-kick into the box from 30 yards out and Alan Rattray rose to head home past Craig Nelson, who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.
Arbroath’s Phil McGuire came off on 19 minutes when he and Brechin’s Mark Cowan clashed heads.
The hosts continued to look the more dangerous of the two teams and defended strongly.
Brechin did enjoy the odd chance and came close to levelling in the 39th minute following a break down the middle.
Neil Janczyk’s long ball to Rory McAllister was headed down for Mark Cowan, whose close range shot was well blocked by goalkeeper Darren Hill for a corner.
Arbroath had the ball in the back of the net at the other end two minutes later when Andy Jackson knocked the ball home from six yards out, only for it to be ruled offside.
The hosts enjoyed some good pressure but their one-goal cushion ensured that Brechin remained in with a shout and the visitors created pressure with 15 minutes to go.
They went close in the 76th minute when Janczyk fired the ball into the area and Paul McLean forced a one-handed save from Hill.
Kevin Byers went close with a long range effort two minutes later to jangle the nerves of the home fans, but Arbroath were able to hold on.
Arbroath manager Jim Weir said, “It’s a massive three points for us.
“Tonight we put in a battling performance.”
Brechin boss Jim Duffy said, “It was a very competitive match and was always going to be a difficult match but I felt the goal we lost was a naive goal and we should have defended it better to be honest.”
Attendance-386.
Arbroath- Hill, Rattray, McGuire (McLean 22), Moyes, McCulloch, Doris (Scott 71), Gibson, Mclaughlin, Booth, Jackson, Hislop (Milne 79). Subs not used-Morrison, Nimmo.
Brechin-Nelson, Walker, Smith, McLean, Docherty, Byers, Fusco, Janczyk, Cowan (King 64), McAllister, Canning (Tulloch 64). Subs not used-Scott, Masson, Seeley.
Referee-N Watters.