Relichtie

   

Memorable matches No. 32

 

This match was requested by Allen.

November 27 1971.                                   St Mirren 4-3 Arbroath.               Scottish League Division 2

St Mirren were one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season, but it would be the lichties who would move upstairs at the end of the campaign as runners up to Dumbarton, with the Buddies two points adrift in 4th.

This match in early December was memorable for the fight back by Arbroath which so nearly brought some reward.

Arbroath opened brightly and pressed the St Mirren defence incessantly in the early stages, but it was the home side who went ahead when McLeod scored in 16 minutes. The saints inside man added his second 6 minutes later beating two defenders and shooting past Gallacher, and completed his hat trick when his glancing header found the mark in 26 mins. Arbroath refused to give up and pulled one back when Robertson took a pass from a free kick and shot home to give the lichties a little hope.

Hugh Robertson first goal scorer

After the break St Mirren scored again when that man McLeod scored his fourth goal. Again Arbroath hit back and after Sellars hit the post, Cargill scored from the rebound. Payne further reduced the deficit to one goal in 65 mins. Despite a valiant effort from the lichties, they couldn't find an equaliser and returned home pointless.

Division 2 table after the St Mirren match 27-11-71.

    P W L D F A Pts
1 Cowdenbeath 17 11 2 4 41 10 26
2

St Mirren

15 12 3 0 44 22 24
3

Stirling Alb.

13 8 2 3 33 18 19
4

Arbroath

15 8 4 3 31 22 19

St Mirren - Stevenson, Murray, McDerment, Knox, McQueen, McFadden, McKean, Blair, Miller, McLeod, Munro.

Arbroath - Gallacher, Milne, McKay, Cargill, McAlpine, Robertson, Sellars, Cant, Stewart, Payne, Stanton.

Referee E. H. Pringle, Edinburgh.

Arbroath gained revenge for this defeat in April, when a goal from Pirie and a double from Cargill gave the lichties a 3-2 win at Gayfield. McLeod (again), and Munro from a penalty scored for the visitors.

Tam Cargill hit double to get revenge for first match

Division 2 table after the St Mirren match 1-4-72.

    P W L D F A Pts
1 Cowdenbeath 32 17 5 10 63 22 44
2

Arbroath

31 18 6 7 64 40 43
3 Stranraer 32 16 8 8 63 53 40
4

Stirling Alb.

29 16 6 7 61 34 39
5 Q.O.S 30 16 7 7 51 31 39
6

St Mirren

30 18 10 2 71 44 38

 Arbroath - Wilson, Milne, McKay, Cargill, Waddell, Robertson, Sellars, Cant, Fletcher, Pirie, Payne. Sub Buchan.         

St Mirren - Gilmour, McLaughlin, Munro, Millar, McQueen, Murray, McKean, Blair, McLeod, Bryceland, Osborne. Sub Jamieson.

Referee J. R. Grant, Larbert.

Attendance 2517.

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