Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Forfar Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 26.3.16

Ladbrokes SPFL League One               Att 429

Stenhousemuir 2 [Gilhaney 11, McMenamin 87] Forfar Athletic 1 [Craig 80]

This was a valuable three points for the Warriors after a barren run had meant that they had picked up only one point in the last six games. They took the team without Jamie McCormack and Ross Meechan who were both suspended whilst Jason Scotland was out through injury. This meant that Jon Robertson dropped back to the right back berth whilst Angus Beith made his debut in midfield on an emergency loan from Hearts.

 Although Forfar were below the Warriors they had been doing better of late and were hoping to close the gap to three points at the bottom end of the table. In their last game Andy Ryan had scored a hat trick and he was full of confidence for this encounter and he was causing problems at the start of the game to both defence and keeper.

It was the home side that took the lead though in the 11^th minute when Mark Gilhaney took full advantage of mistakes by the Forfar back line to curl the ball into the net. Stenhousemuir came close to extending their lead in the 24^th minute when clever footwork by Stephen Stirling created an opening and his effort was beaten out at the base of the post by Darren Hill.  The best chance though fell to Forfar on the half hour when Omar Kader fed the ball out to Ryan but his shot was saved by McCabe’s legs. Gareth Rodger then headed wide from a corner before Danny Denholm’s cross deceived everyone and struck the crossbar.

The second half was a scrappy affair with both teams cancelling each other out for most of it and it took until the 60^th minute before either team created a chance but Steven Craig’s weak shot was comfortably saved, then Carlos Mazana fired well over the bar after doing all the hard work. A powerful drive from Thomas O’Brien fizzed past the post for the visitors in the 68^th minute. With ten minutes to go though they equalised when they capitalised on a defensive error and Ryan set up Craig to fire home. This gave the Loons confidence and they really should have taken the lead shortly afterwards but Craig missed from close range after and then in the 85^th minute Ryan beat the offside trap and tried to round McCabe to tuck the ball into the net. The keeper though made a fine tackle to thwart the danger. That proved to be vital as following some sustained pressure and several blocked shots Ciaran Summers picked out Colin McMenamin at the back post to head down into the net.

There was still time for Beith to test Hill with a dipping effort that was pushed out without conviction. Nevertheless when final whistle blew there was relief in the Stenhousemuir ranks that they had finally secured a victory.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, J.Robertson, Summers, Malcolm, Murray [b31], Stirling [b54], Mazana [Cook 88], Beith, McMenamin, Small [Eddington 79] and Gilhaney. Subs not used – Hamilton, Marenghi, McCroary, Barclay and Allan.

Forfar Athletic – Hill, Young, Kennedy, O’Brien, Rodger, Martin, Kade [S.Smith 79] Craig [b22], Ryan, Swankie and Denholm. Subs not used – Campbell, King, Fotheringham, Hay, Devine and Yates.

Referee – John McKendrick.   Assistants – Gary Hilland and Ross Menzies.