TWO first-half goals ensured the points stayed in Gayfield as Arbroath defeated a spirited Queen’s Park side.

Oliver Fisher grabbed his first senior goal on his first league start but the second-half strike couldn’t kickstart a comeback for a point the performance merited.

The Spiders had plenty of possession and attempts on Aiden McAdams’ goal, but only the 19-year-old’s low strike on the rebound came to count.

At the other end he was an assured team-mate alongside Euan Murray at the heart of the backline which restricted Arbroath to limited chances, but crucially they took two in identical fashion.

Ricki Lamie was switched to left-back with Ben Brannan on the right as Sean Crighton shuffled his side to account for a mounting injury list.

The new-look visitors were first to have a chance when a Lewis Stewart cross was knocked out for a corner by Sean Mackie after five minutes. The set-piece was knocked to the edge of the area where Stewart again was active but couldn’t test Aidan McAdams.

Jack Wills was barely troubled either but he picked the ball out of his net after 11 minutes with Andy Winter giving the home side the lead.

After Spiders attacking free-kick won by Todorov the Red Lichties countered quickly and Winters stayed in line with Aidan Connolly and Brannan to cut into the box and blast by Wills.

Connolly attempted an immediate response, cutting out a pass and racing down the line to win a corner headed wide by Fisher.

The Spiders went close on 20 minutes after industrious work from Michael Ruth kept possession ticking over and Connolly’s delivery was met with a brilliant Todorov header.

It looked like Aidan McAdams had made a brilliant save to deny his former team-mate – but the ball clipped the crossbar and went over for a goal kick.

Queen’s Park won a series of corners on 27 minutes then Lewis Stewart fired just over on the breakaway after half an hour as, despite the scoreline, the Spiders stayed in the hunt, and had been the most threatening of the two sides

That was the again the case when Michael Ruth had the ball in the net but denied by a tight offside call.

It had been all Queen’s since the goal until ten minutes from the break when Rudio Molotnikov fired over but at the other end Ruth stayed onside to take the long-ball down and fed Connolly wide. His low cross into the box fell for Stewart to lay-off to McLean and McAdams made an unorthodox stop.

It proved important. 

Arbroath went up the other end and scored a second just before the break. 

Ricki Lamie stepped in to help Michael Ruth in a midfield tangle, Arbroath prevailed with Jacob McIntyre running at Euan Murray. The captain stood his ground forcing the home attacker to feed wide where he was supported by Molotkinov who fired in a carbon copy of the opener.

That gave Arbroath impetus at the start of the second half and Queen’s were forced to cede possession for the opening exchanges – without conceding any chances themselves.

Ruth fired a snapshot from 20 yards just over in the 58th minute and Lewis Stewart headed a Lamie cross over ten minutes later as they continued to seek out chances and they finally got the goal their earlier play had deserved when Ollie Fisher smashed in from close range. 

Aidan McAdams had blocked a deflected Scott Martin drive with his feet and the ball broke to the teenager for a slick finish into the corner.

That lifted the visitors, and roused the travelling support with 15 minutes to go.

Another goal was in sight and another spell of pressure and corners kept the ball well clear of Jack Wills, but McAdams wasn’t beaten again despite the best efforts of Ross McLean from 20 yards and sub Tyrece McDonnell.

It had been a much improved, spirited performance from the Spiders but still ultimately to no reward.