Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Brechin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 15.3.14

SPFL Division One            Att 512

Stenhousemuir 4 [D.Smith 2, Dickson 6, Watt 52,Gemmell 74] Brechin City 2 [Trouten 35,69 pen]

Stenhousemuir – C.Smith, Devlin, Greacen, McMillan, Malone, Hodge, Dickson, McNeil [Gemmell 67], D.Smith [b72], Lynch [Rowson 80] and Watt [Faulds 67]. Subs not used – McKinlay, Brash, Shaw and Douglas.

Brechin City –Smith, S.Jackson, Petrie, Hay [McLean 67], McLauchlan, Cameron [Thomson 58], Trouten, Walker, A.Jackson, Molloy [b79] and Ferguson [Barr 67]. Subs not used – Brown, Tough and Nelson.

Referee – Euan Anderson            Assistants – Brian Templeton and Willie Ferguson

Stenhousemuir have been notoriously slow to start games positively in recent times, but on this occasion, the first home game for Scott Booth, they got off to a flying start.

Brechin didn’t know what had hit them in the opening stages as they found themselves two goals down after only six minutes play. The first goal came in the second minute and was a well worked move that ended with Bryan Hodge playing the ball out to the left for Josh Watt and he picked out an unmarked Darren Smith in the middle who headed home.

In the sixth minute a ball into the danger area by Ross McNeil wasn’t cleared properly by Darren Petrie and Sean Dickson pounced on the mistake to dispatch the ball past Graeme Smith to put the Warriors two ahead.

In the 13^th minute Ryan Ferguson picked out ex-Warrior Craig Molloy and he powered a header towards goal but was denied by a top class save by Chris Smith. Stenhousemuir carved out another chance three minutes later when Darren Smith did well to get a cross into the middle as the wind threatened to blow the ball out of play and it was met by Ross McNeil but he scuffed his effort just wide of the mark. In the 19^th minute Graeme Smith denied Darren Smith with a save from point blank range as the Warriors looked to extend their lead.

The next goal though came for the visitors in the 35^th minute. Darren Petrie whipping in a cross from the left that was met by the ever dangerous Alan Trouten who volleyed the ball into the net from close range.

This would have given Brechin hope as they had battled Stenhousemuir and the wind in the first half and were hoping to use the elements to their advantage in the second period. Indeed they had a chance two minutes after the restart when Nicky Devlin lost possession but Molloy shot wide of the mark.

Stenhousemuir were threatening down the flanks though and they regained a two goal margin in the 52^nd minute when Darren Smith picked out Josh Watt and he scored his first goal for the club after tucking away the rebound after Graeme Smith had saved his first effort.

For a period after this Brechin looked vulnerable as they chased the game but were flat footed at the back but they survived more through luck than judgement until they were given a chance to get back into the game in the 69^th minute.

The chance came when they were awarded a penalty after the stand side assistant felt that Andy Jackson had been fouled in the box. The referee had originally waived carry on but backed his colleague’s decision. Alan Trouten stepped up and fired the penalty into the net.

Stenhousemuir didn’t take long though to restore their advantage as they scored their fourth goal in the 74^th minute when sub Kris Faulds free kick was met by fellow sub John Gemmell who timed his run to head home at the near post. There was a scare as Gemmell picked up a knock whilst scoring but the striker who was returning after injury was able to resume after treatment.

There was a brief flurry of action at the other end with Andy Jackson having a shot saved by Chris Smith and a glancing header by Robert Thomson that drifted wide. The best chances though came through Stenhousemuir attacks with Darren Smith firing wide in the 82^nd minute and then he was picked out by a clever Faulds pass but shot over the bar as the Warriors almost went nap in the 90^th minute.