Arbroath 2-1 Stranraer: Last-minute Doris seals victory for Arbroath

Arbroath’s Steven Doris struck deep into injury time last night to breathe fresh life into the Red Lichties’ faltering promotion push.

His goal secured a 2-1 success over visitors Stranraer to move Paul Sheerin’s side up the table into fourth place after a run of three successive defeats.

The Stair Park side, who prop up the table, sprang a surprise in their line-up by including former Dunfermline Athletic midfielder Nick Phinn as a signed player just four days after he played as a trialist substitute for Stenhousemuir against Forfar

The moved had looked set to help the Blues secure their first away point of the season with Robert Love’s first goal for Stephen Aitken’s side since he joined them in the summer from Albion Rovers drawing them level, however they returned home with nothing to show for their travels again thanks to Doris’ late strike.

Arbroath took the lead midway through the first half when Paul Currie volleyed in, however Love converted a Sean Winter cross with 90 seconds played at the start of the second half.

It looked as though Stranraer’s battling performance would 
get them a point until two minutes into injury time, when Mark Baxter crossed and Doris sent home a first-time right-
foot shot.

Arbroath: Morrison, Baxter, Scott Robertson, Keddie, Hamilton, Sibanda (Rennie 54), Kerr, Currie, Sheerin (Malcolm 88), Doris, Holmes (Gribben 68). Subs not used: Bullock, Banjo.

Stranraer: Mitchell, Staunton, MacGregor, McKeown, Dunlop, Winter, Gallagher, Phinn (Wright 68), Love, Moore (One 74), Malcolm. Subs not used: Cadwell, Agnew, Lloyd Kinnaird.