Stenhousemuir v Forfar Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 14.01.12

Irn Bru Scottish Second Division                             Att 454

Stenhousemuir 2 [McMillan 41, McCulloch og 70] Forfar Athletic 3 [Templeman 43,80,Fotheringham 89

Stenhousemuir went into this game with Stevie Murray, Eric Paton, Andy Rodgers and Iain Thomson missing through injury and suspension. As well as these enforced changes Ally Brown was replaced in goal by Chris McCluskey. This meant that there were five changes to the last match played at Ochilview

For the bulk of the first half it was a poor game with little of note from either side. Forfar were the more dangerous though with their aerial threat being a cause for concern. A long throw by Steven Tulloch in the 10^th minute ended with a Forfar attacker just missing the ball and Kevin McKinlay heading the ball back to the keeper.

Forfar had a chance to open their account in the 39^th minute when Dale Hilson drove an effort over the bar after a defensive blunder by Martyn Corrigan left the Loon with only Chris McCluskey to beat.

The game sprung to life in the 40^th minute when great footwork by Brown Ferguson created an opening and his shot squeezed through the Forfar defence and looked goal bound until Mark McCallum made a fingertip save low down to deny him.

From the resultant corner however Stenhousemuir took the lead when Ross McMillan rose above everyone to power home a header. The Warriors jubilation was to be short lived however as seconds later Forfar equalised when Chris Templeman headed home a Nicky Low cross.     There was another chance for the Warriors to take the lead though in the 44^th minute following good work by Jamie Campbell, the pass into the danger area was partly deflected and although Stewart Kean was able to get on the end of it his attempt had little purchase and was comfortable for the keeper

Almost immediately after the restart Stewart Kean struck a 25 yard effort that McCallum could only divert onto the crossbar before grateful clasping the rebound before Kean could pounce. In the 57^th minute the Warrior’s players were celebrating as a Paul McHale strike was deflected past the keeper and into the net. The ‘goal’ however was disallowed as the referee felt that the deflection had been caused by illegal use of a hand and therefore did not count. If it had been deliberate though he should have cautioned the Stenhousemuir player involved for unsporting conduct but that did not happen.

The Warriors might have felt hard done by with hat decision but they eventually took the lead in the 70^th minute though the goal had a touch of good fortune about it. Paul McHale’s cross from the right was met by Sean Dickson and although his effort was goal bound it was helped on the way by Mark McCulloch when his attempt to clear failed.

Once again this put Forfar on the back foot and they responded by making a triple substitution to try and get back into the game. In the 80^th minute they were back on level terms and once again Stenhousemuir were participants in their own downfall when Chris McCluskey failed to cut out a Dale Hilson cross and Templeman scored his second goal of the afternoon. Although Grant Plenderleith saw an effort comfortably saved it was at the other end that the breakthrough came when Willie Lyle scrambling to make a clearance instead of putting it out of play knocked it into the path of substitute Martyn Fotheringham and he steered his shot into the net with only a minute to play.

This then was an disastrous performance by a team that have so far stumbled into 2012 but credit must be given to Forfar who showed a spirit that is not normally associated with a team sitting bottom to come back twice before securing victory

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Lyle, McKinlay, Corrigan, McMillan, McHale, Campbell [Thomson 65], Quinn [Plenderleith 53], Kean, Ferguson and Dickson [Lawson 84]. Subs not used –Love and Brown

Forfar Athletic – McCallum, McCulloch, Tulloch [Byers 76], Bolochoweckyj, Shaughnessy, Mowat [Motion 76], Cambell, Ross [Fotheringham 76], Templeman, Hilson and Low. Subs not used –Wilson and Patterson

Referee – Des Roache    Assistants – John McCrossan and Duncan Williams