Red Lichties Regret Not Killing Off Game - Arbroath vs Partick Thistle

Gayfield Park in the early evening sun

The next leg of my trip saw me cross the road from my hotel to Haymarket Station to head along the coast, through Dundee to Arbroath. In all honesty, Arbroath was never on my radar but with them playing at home on a Friday night before an Aberdeen match on the Saturday and being so easy to get to by train set things up nicely. It was only after I'd booked everything that I discovered that Gayfield Park is the closest ground on the continent to the sea which was a major bonus. Tonight Arbroath were playing Partick Thistle in The Scottish Championship and they were playing at this level having won League One last season. The hosts were taking to life in The Championship sitting in fourth while Partick were bottom and still looking for their first win.

Great Friday evening crowd

 Arbroath start like a house on fire house and batter back Partick in the opening stages with the Partick keeper having to tip over a powerful long range effort. The hosts then see a free kick hot the post before they finally get the goal they deserve with a back post header. Arbroath continue to pepper the Partick goal but can't the vital second goal. Partick think they should have a penalty mid way through the second half but the referee gives a free kick for a dive. Partick get an equaliser when the forward finishes from close range and Arbroath's hearts are broken late on when they wrongly have a goal disallowed for offside.

Throw in down the sea side of the ground

Even though Gayfield Park is only a fifteen minute walk from the station it is not possible to get there and back in a day for a game from London. Trains take less than an hour from Aberdeen if you fly there or use it as a base. I really liked the town and enjoyed the abbey and the Abroath Smokies are fantastic by the harbour. Before the game I went to The Tutties Neuk Inn which is just across from the road from the ground and as there is of course no bar at the ground is where the fans gather pre game. On my walk back to my hotel I popped into The Smugglers Inn which was a very friendly local. As you can tell from the pictures, even if it wasn't next to the sea, Gayfield Park is a cracker, Aberdeen had a lot to live up to.

Arbroath trying to get behind the Partick defence