Stranraer 0-3 Arbroath

Mar 9 2008 Chris Sanderson At Stair Park

GOAL hero Robbie Raeside says his Arbroath team-mates are gunning for a play-off spot after they cruised to victory against the sorry Blues.

The towering central defender put the Red Lichties on their way with a first-half header against the run of play.

And second-half strikes from Paul Watson and Bryan Deasley wrapped up the win and fired out a warning to the Smokies' play-off spot rivals that they mean business.

Raeside said: "In all the years I've played I don't think I have ever come to Stranraer and won 3-0.

"That's how good a result this is and hopefully we can take great confidence from it and make the play-offs."

Delighted Arbroath boss John McGlashan said: "It's a great win but maybe the scoreline flattered us a little."

Despite being on the back foot for most of the first half, the visitors went in at the interval ahead.

The home side had an early let-off when Barry Sellars let fly with a 10th minute free-kick that Stranraer keeper Scott Black did well to smother at the near post.

But Raeside went one better in the 17th minute when he took advantage of some slack marking to power home a Watson corner from the edge of the six-yard box to give Arbroath the lead.

That stung the Blues into action and they spent the rest of the half trying hard to grab an equaliser.

Andy Gibson swung over a dangerous free-kick in the 21st minute but no one was able to force the ball home.

Then Stephen McConalogue went close when he hooked a shot just over Darren Hill's bar four minutes later.

The visitors were living dangerously and right-back Kevin McMullan was their hero in the 32nd minute. Gibson swung in a wicked corner and McMullan was somehow able to clear the ball off the line to safety.

Again Stranraer poured forward and young striker Stuart McColm latched on to a great pass from McConalogue to rifle an effort narrowly wide.

And when the home side twice failed to convert chances after two goalmouth scrambles in the later stages of the half, Arbroath must have been feeling it was going to be their day.

After riding the storm in the first half it was all one-way traffic in the second period as the Red Lichties moved up a gear and forced Stranraer back.

And there looked only one winner after Watson made it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

Sellars played a short pass to McMullen just inside the home side's half.

The right back then looked up and sprayed the ball straight into the path of Watson who elegantly drilled it past the helpless Black.

And it was game over when on-loan Dundee midfielder Deasley wrapped up the points in the 74th minute.

Stranraer had failed to clear Watson's corner and the loose ball dropped straight to the feet of Deasley who rammed the ball past Black to make it 3-0.

The home side's miserable afternoon in front of goal continued when Gregory Tade flashed an Alex White corner just wide in stoppage time.

Disappointed Stranraer boss Derek Ferguson groaned: "The hungrier team won. We were really poor individually and collectively."

HERO

SMOKIES midfielder Paul Watson had a fine afternoon, setting up his side's opener and scoring a fine strike of his own.

VILAIN

STRANRAER'S dozy defence must have angered boss Derek Ferguson by switching off at key moments to giftwrap the points to Arbroath.