Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Berwick Rangers at Ochilview Park on 23.9.17

Ladbrokes SPFL League Two             Att 348

Stenhousemuir 3 [McGuigan 3,87, Scullion og 17] Berwick Rangers 0

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Meechan, M.Dunlop. R.Dunlop, Paterson, Ferry, McGuigan, Paton [b76][Murray 88], McMenamin [Longwoth 75], Scott [b34] [Ferns 85] and Donalson. Subs not used – Marsh, Gilmour, McMinn and Blockley.

Berwick Rangers – McCrorie, Notman [b25], McKinlay, Fairbairn, McKenna, Phillips, Irving [b70], Stewart [Lavery 67], Donaldson [Thomson 75], Murrell [Rutherford 75] and Scullion. Subs not used – Waugh, Fleming, McDonald and Brennan.

Referee – Craig Napier          Assistants – Kylie Cockburn and Finlay Currie

Stenhousemuir made two changes to the starting eleven from the Annan game with Colin McMenamin making his first league start as did Nikki Paterson in his first game as a signed player.

This was a well deserved victory for the Warriors who played at a decent tempo for longer than the other league games and they were to reap the rewards. Once again they were to get off to another good start with a superb strike by Mark McGuigan who gave the Berwick keeper no chance of saving.

There was a scare for the home side though the 11^th minute when Chris Smith spilled an Andrew Irving shot but the keeper was able to recover before any damage was done. A minute later a neat interchange of passes saw the ball flow quickly to the opposition half and Colin McMenamin was just unable to make contact with the final cross.

The second goal was not long in coming though but it is fair to say that it had a large slice of good fortune to it with Pat Scullion powering a header into his own net though the ex-Warrior felt that he was nudged.

The Warriors came close again in the 23^rd minute when Robby McCrorie had to be at his best to tip a Paterson in-swinging free-kick over the bar.

Although Irving had another strike saved the best chance for Berwick came in the 31^st minute when a Kevin McKinlay cross split the defence open but Aaron Murrell shot wide. In between these chances Scullion partly redeemed himself when he cleared a McGuigan effort off the line with the keeper beaten.

After being on the defensive in the first half Berwick came out stronger and Ruaridh Donaldson did well to make an intercepting header at the back post to deny Gary Phillips,  After that though it was Stenhousemuir who were stronger again.  Another neat passing move set up Harry Paton in the 57^th minute but he failed to hit the target. On the hour mark McGuigan was played through after Martin Scott intercepted but the striker was denied by McCrorie.

Other chances come and went for Stenhousemuir but in a rare attack by the Borderers sub Greg Rutherford’s effort from close range was saved by Chris Smith’s legs in the 79^th minute. If that had went in it could have made it an edgy last few minutes but in the end Stenhousemuir were to get a third when McGuigan tucked the ball home after Eddie Ferns picked him out after skipping past his marker.

Thet almost made if four in stoppage time but Jamie Longworth headed a Ross Meechan cross wide on the target.

All in all a performance to be pleased with though there are still a number of rough edges at times in the passing game but that was a minor quibble in this game as Stenhousemuir won their third home game in a row.