0Match Report
Stenhousemuir v Annan Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 27.12.08
Irn Bru Scottish League Three Att 524
Stenhousemuir 0 Annan Athletic 0
After drawing a blank the previous week in the goalscoring stakes for the first time in 19 games it was almost inevitable that the Warriors would stumble in this aspect again. This was despite the side setting up in a 3-4-3 formation after Chris McGroarty dropped out through illness and despite looking more positive the result was that there were actually few chances created throughout the game.
The first meeting between the clubs had a sense of occasion about it with it being Annan’s first league match but in truth the match itself was a pretty dire affair as both teams had cancelled each other out until Paul Tyrrell had been sent off. This time however there was little to commend the festive fixture that appropriately fell in the lull of the high of Christmas and the build up to the New Year.
There could be few complaints about the eventual result a no score draw, though it was the first time since the 19th of January that the Warriors had featured in such an event. [On that occasion Montrose were the opposition] Indeed this game looked to be heading for that outcome from early on in the game as Annan under the stewardship of ex-Stenhousemuir legend Harry Cairney cancelled out the home side. In was the Galabankies who had looked the most likely to score when Brian Gilfillan almost capitalised on the Warriors clearing their lines but his effort from outside the box in the first minute went over. Stenhousemuir looked only a sporadic threat with the best opportunities in the first half coming from outside the box but the best effort a 25 yarder whistled past the post. It look until the 18th minute before either keeper made a save and Scott Bennett looked comfortable in stopping a Derek Townsley header from a Lee Hoolickin cross though the veteran who marshalled the Annan side superbly should have done better.
Apart from either side picking up on the odd mistake there was little creativity taking place to open up the opposition but it was the visitors who made the best opening when Aaron Muirhead whipped in a cross from the right that was met first time by Jamie Dunbar who struck a good shot but he was to be denied by the alert Bennett who thwarted his effort at point blank range.
As the game progressed Stenhousemuir had their best chances the first in the 72nd minute when Steven Connolly burst through the defence but his shot across goal from a good angle went wide with no one able to get on to it and with five minutes left there was almost a fortuitous goal when an Iain Thomson corner was bundled just wide.
In the end a share of the spoils was a fair result though one that means that the pressure that the Warriors will suffer at the top will intensify as they failed to take advantage of the other teams seeing their games cancelled through bad weather.
Stenhousemuir – Bennett, Lyle, Motion, Thom [Brand 65] Smith, Ovenstone, Thomson, Tyrrell, Dalziel, Hampshire [Love 86], and Connolly . Subs not used – Ferguson, Desmond and Renton
Annan Athletic – Summersgill, Muirhead [Adamson 83], Watson, Gilfillan, Neilson, Townsley Sloan, Johnstone[Storey 69], Bell, Dunbar, Hoolickin . Subs not used – Jardine, Inglis and Calder.
Referee – Steven McLean Assistants – Derek Nicolls and Graeme Stewart
