Press & Journal
Arbroath deliver a first for Weir as Cooper criticises ref
sub Doris grabs the points for red lichties in victory at Balmoor
Jim Weir got his first win in charge of Arbroath as they ended Peterhead’s five-game unbeaten run – but Blue Toon manager Neale Cooper was unimpressed by referee Neil Watters.
Goals by Barry Sellars and Steven Doris gave the Red Lichties victory and Weir said: “We showed great character to come back and win after Peterhead equalised. “I have been delighted with how the players have responded since I came in. If we can string a couple of results together we can get ourselves back into the pack.”
Peterhead produced a subdued display and were punished when Arbroath substitute Doris scored in the closing stages. The outcome might have been different had Peterhead been awarded a first-half penalty for what looked a clear foul on Blue Toon scorer Martin Bavidge, who was later stretchered off with a nasty facial injury after colliding with former Blue Toon midfielder Keith Gibson.
Cooper said: “Too many players did not perform. They have been quite rightly praised for how they have played in the past month but now they have to accept some criticism. “It was a poor performance and we should have done much better. Arbroath’s defenders were not put under enough pressure, although we came back into the match after a bad start.
“But the biggest issue in my opinion was the referee. I cannot believe some of the decisions he made. He spoiled it big time – and not just for us. We should have had a penalty in the first half. Then, near the end of the match, their player came in late with an aerial challenge on Martin Bavidge and the referee restarted the match with a bounce ball, not a free kick, which was incredible.”
Arbroath dominated the first half and were rewarded for their pressure just before the interval. Steven Rennie burst down the right and cleverly cut the ball back to Barry Sellars, whose calm sidefoot finish found the bottom corner.
The visitors continued to impress after the break but Peterhead levelled from their first corner of the match on the hour. Graeme Sharp’s deep delivery was knocked down by Callum Macdonald and Bavidge was perfectly placed to stab home from close range.
Carrying momentum, Peterhead, who had to replace injured goalkeeper John Bateman, went in search of a winner and threatened on a couple of occasions without ever troubling Arbroath keeper Darren Hill.
However, Arbroath picked up the pace and finished strongly and, with 11 minutes left, Doris hooked in an angled shot via a deflection.
From The Courier
Jim Weir’s first win as ARBROATH manager halted Peterhead’s strong run, and the Gayfield gaffer thought his side fully deserved the 2-1 victory. Ahead at the break courtesy of a Barry Sellars’ opener, Peterhead’s Martin Bavidge levelled before Steven Doris bagged the visitors’ winner in 79 minutes.
After a couple of promising displays, Weir is hopeful the players will continue to grow in confidence. “One thing we’re not doing is getting carried away, but we’ve shown we can compete and if we match teams from the first whistle, we certainly have the talent to win games,” he said. “I had a meeting and a chat with the supporters during the week, and there was a feeling that maybe we had been out fought in games—but the guys worked their socks off in what were difficult conditions. “We got the ball down and passed it in the right areas, and I thought we defended well against a side who were unbeaten in six games.”
He added, “I thought our centre-halves were outstanding—Peterhead have quality strikers, but we limited them to very few clear-cut chances in the game.”
The Gayfield treatment table will be busy this week as Doris, Sellars and Ian Dobbins all picked up knocks. Keith Gibson also endured a painful return to his old club after a clash with Bavidge left him needing five stitches in a head wound.
From the Sunday Mail
STEVEN DORRIS bagged the winner as Arbroath notched up their first victory under new boss Jim Weir.
Peterhead had a penalty shout in 25 minutes when Martin Bavidge cut inside Marc McCulloch and was hauled down but the referee waved play on.
The visitors should have been in front when Barry Sellars capitalised on Bobby Mann's mistake to play in Stevie Hislop but the striker curled his finish wide.
Arbroath snatched the opener right on half-time. Steven Rennie found space on the right before cutting back for Sellars to side-foot home.
The Blue Toon were back in it on the hour when Bavidge netted from close range after Callum Macdonald headed back Graeme Sharp's corner.
But Arbroath regained the lead in 79 minutes as Dorris looped an effort beyond keeper Paul Jarvey.
The match ended on an even worse note for the home side as Bavidge was carried off after a sickening clash of heads with Keith Gibson.
Arbroath boss Jim Weir said: "I was disappointed with the goal we lost but the boys showed great character to go on and take the points."
Peterhead gaffer Neale Cooper said: "After we equalised I thought the team that got the next goal would win. But unfortunately it was Arbroath who scored it."