Without the injured trio of captain Callum Macdonald, goalkeeper Jon Bateman and striker Scott Michie, Graeme Sharp due to work commitments, and John Stewart and Dougie Cameron who have left the club, it was a squad down to the bare bones that made the trip to Gayfield.

There were debuts for midfielder Barry Wilson and on-loan Aberdeen defender Jon Crawford as Neale Cooper looked for his side to make their belated start to 2010 much better than the end of 2009.

There was early promise as Ryan Strachan fired in a shot from the edge of the area, but his effort was wide of the upright.

But Peterhead went in front after just 11 minutes. It was Wilson whose left-wing corner was flicked on at the near post, with Davie Ross perfectly placed to turn the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

The lead was short-lived though, as trialist David Winters prodded the ball over the line just two minutes later, after Stevie Hislop had seen his header from Kenny McLean's corner blocked on the line.

However, the Blue Toon refused to sit back, and had both a goal and a man advantage. Ross caused the initial problem as he cut in from the left and cut back for Wilson who saw his effort blocked on the line by the arm of defender Ewan Moyes.



Moyes was shown a red card, and Wilson stepped up to send Arbroath goalkeeper Darren Hill the wrong way from 12 yards and mark his debut with a goal.

And the Toon took full advantage of their ten-man hosts to add a third nine minutes later, although the build-up was more than a little confusing.

Nicky Clark went down after being body-checked, only for referee Matt Northcroft to wave play on. However, Arbroath midfielder Steven Doris, who had earlier clipped the crossbar with a rising shot, stopped play and picked the ball up as he saw assistant referee Steve Pullar flag for the foul.

Wilson took a quick free kick from a tight angle where the handball had taken place, and found the net, but the play was pulled back to the spot of the foul on Clark. This time, Wilson sent in an inch-perfect ball for Martin Bavidge, who had the simplest of tasks to nod home at the back post.

Bavidge could have netted his second before the interval, but for a fine block from Alan Rattray, but the points were sealed ten minutes after the break.

The hard-working Ross again caused problems on the left, and he cut inside his man before sending in a delightful cross which Nicky Clark threw himself at to score.

In a rare attack, Arbroath could have pulled one back through former Toon man Keith Gibson, but the midfielder's powerful 25-yard strike was palmed away from the top corner by Paul Jarvie.

The introduction of PA Bruce for the tiring Ross sparked some fresh energy into the game, and the youngster's first contribution was to beat his man on the left, only for Hill to save his low shot.

As the game drew to a close, Arbroath could have snatched a consolation, but Bryan Scott unbelievably contrived to turn wide from close range.