ARBROATH 2 SHIRE 0

A failure to take first half chances cost Shire dear at Gayfield.

The visitors had the upper hand for sections of the match which gave them opportunities to reflect that on the scoresheet, but the strikers left their shooting boots at home.

And, after Stephen Oates had been sent off for a last-gasp challenge on Bryan Scott which resulted in an Arbroth penalty kick there was no way back.

Alan Brazil gave the home side the lead with that 57th minute spot kick and, minutes later, Scott doubled the advantage with a peach of a goal.

Shire travelled to Arbroath knowing the pressure was on following the disappointing weekend defeat at Forfar.

Skipper Andrew Brand was ruled out injured while Carl Thywissen was unavailable due to work commitments. Marc McKenzie dropped to the substitutes bench.

Gordon Moffat came back for his first Shire start of 2008, Joe Savage made his return to the starting eleven and Paul Brownlie was recalled to the midfield.

And Shire made the brightest of starts. After just two minutes Andy Rodgers was clean through on goal after giving Craig Tully the slip but his final shot was poor and straight at Arbroath keeper, Darren Hill.

Rodgers again came close after 15 minutes when he just failed to connect with a cross when he had the goal at his mercy.

Arbroath's Scott had the ball in the back of the net after 37 minutes but his effort was ruled out because teammate Alan Rattray was standing in an offside position.

Shire felt they should have had a penalty close to half-time when Rodgers caught Hill in no-man's land. He rounded the keeper and squared the ball to Savage who was felled by a challenge from Tully. But no penalty was given.

At half-time the blank scoreline would have come as a disappointment to Shire and a relief to Arbroath.

After the break it was all Shire. Paul McBride weaved his way past two Arbroath defenders but, with only Hill to beat, blsted his effort way over the bar.

Moments later Rodgers was clean through on goal for the third time in the match but again shot weakly and straight at the home keeper.

Shire piled on the pressure around the Arbroath goal but just could not convert that into clear-cut chances.

Then, on 57 minutes, came the sucker punch. Arbroath broke clear. Scott was clean through on Gary O'Connor and raced round him, but as the Arbroath man ran to collect the ball and place it into the empty net he was fouled by Oates.

Referee Craig Charleston pointed to the penalty spot and then showed Oates a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Alan Brazil scored from the spot.

The ten men were on the back foot after that and O'Connor was forced into a superb save a few minutes later to deny Scott.

But the Arbroath man was not to be denied and on 72 minutes an individual piece of brilliance made it 2-0. He held off the attentions of two Shire men before turning on the edge of the box and sending a stunning effort high into the roof of the net.

A flurry of Shire substitutions failed to change things and, towards the end Arbroath had even more chances to increase their lead but they failed to take any of them.

Arbroath : Hill, Campbell(Smith 76), Ferguson, Rattray, Tully, Lunan, McMullan, Scott(Tosh 79), Brazil(Deasley 76), Sellars, McBride.

Shire : O'Connor, Mofat, K. McBride, King, Oates, Brownlie, Rodgers(Simpson 79), Smith, Savage, P. McBride(McKenzie 71), Ure(Kelly 82).

Referee : C. Charleston

Attendance :421.