Arbroath 1 - 0 Queen's Park: Swankie sends Spiders down

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 17:41

A SUPERB Gavin Swankie header 13 minutes from the end gave Arbroath a hard-earned victory over a plucky Queen's Park at windswept Gayfield.

The former St Johnstone midfielder, now in his third spell at Gayfield, bulleted a Paul Sheerin freekick high into the net to send the Red Lichties into second position in the league.

It was no less than Swankie deserved, as he felt he should have been on the scoresheet a few minutes earlier when his 25-yard free kick hit the back of the net, but referee Craig Charleston ruled it out because another Arbroath player was deemed to be interfering with play in an offside position.

Swankie tormented the Queen's defence throughout and could have put his side in front after only five minutes with a freekick which sailed narrowly over the bar. He came close again when his side-footed effort was well saved by Spiders' keeper Adam Strain.

Queen's had their chances, however, particularly in the opening period, when they were denied a penalty after Kevin McMullen appeared to handle when blocking an Ian Watt shot. Paul Harkins, Michael Daly and Martin McBride also came close but the visitors just couldn't make the breakthrough.