Cooper takes 'woeful' view as Peterhead bag play-off points
blue toon manager apologises to supporters for grim stuff of balmoor victory
Peterhead manager Neale Cooper was grateful for the three points - but felt there was little else to savour about his side's 1-0 victory against Arbroath at Balmoor last night.
Stuart Anderson's first-half headed goal was enough to stretch the Blue Toon's unbeaten run in the Second Division to eight matches - but Cooper reckoned the match was brutal to watch.
He said: "It was atrocious, absolutely woeful. I think we play entertaining football at times but this was not one of them. I did not enjoy watching it and I can only apologise to the supporters.
"It might have been down to having three matches in seven days but it is a fit squad so it should not be an excuse. We have East Fife on Saturday and we will not get away with it if there is not a massive improvement."
Peterhead almost paid the price immediately when Stuart Smith was short with a back header. Goalkeeper Paul Jarvie raced from his line but collided with forward David McGowan in the process.
McGowan had to go off injured, with Jarvie following him eight minutes later, but there was a case for a red card rather than the yellow shown.
After weathering the early storm Peterhead almost took the lead when Anderson forced goalkeeper Darren Hill to tip over the bar but he was not to be denied on 35 minutes. The goal arrived via a wicked cross from Daniel Moore.
He crossed from the right and picked out Anderson, who glanced home a header to score the vital goal.
Arbroath continued to dominate the possession however, with Barry Sellars forcing substitute goalkeeper Michel Kula to back track to keep out his 40-yard lobbed effort before the same player fired a volley wide.
Peterhead could have eased the pressure late on only for Neil McVitie's effort to crash off the under-side of the bar.
Arbroath manager John McGlashan said: "Maybe the result was harsh but we did not create enough."