Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Brechin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 20.12.14

SPFL Division One             Att 320

Stenhousemuir 0 Brechin City 2 [Trouten 31pen, Thomson 90]

There was not much festive cheer at Ochilview on Saturday for Stenhousemuir as they not only lost the game but also were reduced in numbers both on and off the field with Ross McMillan sent off for preventing a goal scoring opportunity and Scott Booth sent to the stand after words with the assistant referee.

The Warriors started brightly and Colin McMenamin headed a Sean Dickson cross wide in the third minute of the game. Brechin though showed that they were going to be a threat in the fifth minute when Bobby Barr had the initial upper hand on Robbie Duncan before the defender managed a block. This highlighted though that the Btrechin player was up for this game after being quiet in recent meetings.

It was nevertheless the home side that was on top and Tom Walsh saw a 20 yard strike slip out of Graeme Smith’s grasp and the Brechin keeper was grateful to see the ball go out for a corner. Ross Meechan then threatened with a half chance after a powerful run and this was followed by a Bryan Hodge effort that went wide as Stenhousemur tried to impose themselves on the game.

The best chance of the game though came at the other end and Greg Fleming tipped an Alan Trouten drive round the post after the referee played a good advantage for Brechin following a Ross McMillan foul on Paul McLean.

Brave defending in the 25^th minute by Colin Hamilton from a Hodge cross saw the City defender collide with the post as he denied Colin McMenamin a chance but the ex-Warrior needed lengthy treatment before continuing.

Brechin were given a boost on the half hour when a Gerry McLauchlan free kick saw Andy Jackson get the wrong side of Ross McMillan and was pulled down. This resulted in a double penalty for the Warriors as McMillan was dismissed for stopping a goal scoring opportunity and Brechin were given a chance from the penalty spot that Trouten duly converted.

Brechin not surprisingly had their best spell after this with Fleming being called into action several times but the score remained one nil as the first half drew to a close.

Just after the resumption Fleming saved from Jamie Masson but after that it was the home side that created the better openings with Colin McMenamin causing the Brechin defence with his runs onto passes behind their defence. Darren McCormack snuffed out a chance after McMenamin squared to Tom Walsh, then the Brechin defender was lucky not to be cautioned after he checked a McMenamin run but the referee allowed advantage and Graeme Smith was forced to save a strike from just inside the box. The striker came even closer in the 73^rd minute after Kris Faulds pinged a pass from the right flank and McMenamin chested the ball down before rattling the bar with a powerful drive.

Brechin showed that they were still a threat going forwards and Fleming made a superb double save first of all to deny Barr then to prevent McLean scoring with the rebound.

In the closing stages Scott Booth was sent off for disputing a throw in decision and salt was rubbed into the wounds in stoppage time when Barr stretched to just get the ball before it went out [a similar scenario to when Watt appeared to do the same at the Warriors dugout but a throw in given] and squared the ball to Robert Thomson to tuck the ball into the net to make the game safe for Brechin.

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Duncan [Fotheringham 80], Meechan, McMillan [so30], Lithgow, K.Millar, Faulds [Watt 81], Hodge, McMenamin, Walsh [Eddington 61] and Dickson. Subs not used – Summers, Reid, Sludden and Shaw.

Brechin City – Smith, McLean, Hamilton, D.McCormack, McLauchlan, Fusco [Molloy 75], Trouten [Thomson 83], McAusland, A.Jackson, Masson [Wighton 64] and Barr. Subs not used – McNeil, Ferguson, Cameron and O’Neil.

Referee – Nick Walsh      Assistants – Raymond Whyte and Kevin McElhinney