Match Report

After 3 successive away matches, the Warriors made their return to Ochilview back on Saturday as we played host to Elgin City in Cinch League 2.

It was great to see the Warriors fans back supporting the boys, however we got off to the worst possible start when we fell behind in only the 4^th minute. MacPhee swung in a corner for Elgin Towards the front post where McHardy was able to beat all the Warriors defenders to the ball to head home past David Wilson.

This inevitably had the Warriors shaken and Elgin almost doubled their lead only a few minutes later, this time MacPhee’s headed effort only just flashed past the post after he got on the end of a flick on from a long throw.

Despite a poor start, the Warriors did begin to come into the game and make a contest of it. We were able to create our first half chance after 10 minutes when James Lyon drove into the box and slipped the ball to Orr who turned and got a snap shot away, however his effort was straight at McHale in the visitors goal.

As the first half progressed, the Warriors grew further into the game and began to see the better of the play. Half chances fell to Wedderburn and O’Reilly but nothing too clear cut was created. Elgin were able to see the half out to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half began as it finished with the Warriors on top. A fine passing move in the 47^th minute saw the ball eventually cut back to Forbes 12 yards out but his first time effort only narrowly evaded the far post with the keeper beaten.

The boys came close again in the 67^th minute, this time with McHale being called into action. Adam brown played the ball down into the left channel where it was picked up by Orr. Orr then shrugged off the first defender before coming inside the second and firing a low shot to the near post which was turned round well by McHale.

The resulting corner was cleared but only as far as Brown who sent an excellent diagonal ball long into the box where it was met by the head of Jamieson. The Alloa loanee was able to send a great header into the net low and hard at the front post to pull the Warriors level.

The boys were now firmly in the ascendancy and so nearly completed the turnaround in the 73^rd minute as O’Reilly nicked the ball off of an Elgin defender and surged into the box. He then played a ball across to Brown who looked set to score from only 6 yards out but his side-footed volley flew over the bar.

Agonisingly however for the Warriors, it would be the away team that would grab the next goal. Elgin built the ball up well on their left hand side before working the ball across to Russell Dingwall who cut inside and slotted home to make it 1-2 with 14 minutes remaining.

Elgin were then able to see out their lead until the full time whistle and took home all 3 points back up the road to the highlands. This was a hard one to take for the boys given the spells they had on top and the chances created. The result sees Elgin move up to 6^th in the table, whereas the Warriors sit 9^th, level on points with bottom side Cowdenbeath.

Stenhousemuir: Wilson, R. Lyon, Jamieson, Miller, Tapping, Wedderburn, O’Reilly, Forbes, Hughes, Orr, J. lyon

Substitutes: Marshall, Coll, Anderson, Crighton, Corbett, Graham, Thomson, Tierney, Brown

Elgin City: McHale, Cooney, Spark, Mailer, McHardy, R. Dingwall, Grivosti, MacEwan, MacPhee, O’Keefe, Cameron

Substitutes: Machado, Trialist, T. Dingwall, Sopel, Peters, Lawrence, Allen, Little

Stephen Swift interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrbvSb0HhKs