Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Stirling Albion at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 2.1.17

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 626

Stenhousemuir 2 [Scott, Meechan] Stirling Albion 1 [D.Smith 90]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Meechan, M.Dunlop, R.Dunlop, Donaldson, Marsh [b 90], McGuigan, Ferry, Scott [b63], [Paterson 81], Paton [Longworth 87] and Cook [Murray 74]. Subs not used – McMenamin, Allan, McMinn and Halleran.

Stirling Albion – Binnie [b64], McGeachie, Noble, McNeil, Banner, Black [Kavanagh 56], Morrison [McLaughlin 60], Caddis [b77][Robertson 81][b85], MacDonald, D.Smith and Dickson. Subs not used – Foden, R.Smith, Davidson and McMullan.

Referee – Stephen Brown     Assistants – Stephen Mitchell and Ross Hardie

Both teams came into the first game of the New Year having seen their previous fixture a few days earlier postponed due to the weather. The Warriors however had managed to quickly arrange a training session and this possibly paid dividends as they looked sharper in their play from the start of the game.

Cammy Binnie was certainly the busier of the two keepers and he was called into action in the first minute of the game to tip a Martin Scott effort from an Alan Cook cross over the bar. Ross Dunlop then headed over as Stenhousemuir took the game to their local rivals. Scott then hit a powerful effort just over the bar. Stirling were rarely threatening but they showed that they couldn’t be disregarded when Darren Smith created an opening with a run across the 18 yard line before shooting wide.

A minute later Harry Paton prodded an effort towards goal but it was a comfortable save and then in the 21^st minute he set up Mark McGuigan but for once he was slow to react and Steven Noble was able to block his effort.

Gradually Stirling began to have more of a presence in the game and Sean Dickson with a 25 yard volley was denied by a Chris Smith tip over the bar. His next effort though wasn’t quite so precise as he shot over the enclosure roof after a Calumn Morrison corner had caused problems for the home defence.

The Warriors resumed the second half positively but they must have been surprised after squandering chances in the first period to find themselves two goals up within six minutes of the resumption. Scott saw a header deflected for a corner that was taken by Alan Cook and was met by Scott at the back post to fire home his first league goal of the season. In the 51^st minute he became provider playing the pass to Ross Meechan who struck a curling effort from 25 yards with his ‘wrong’ foot past a despairing Binnie and into the net.

A long range shot by Morrison was the response from Stirling but it was pushed round the post by Chris Smith. McGuigan and Paton combined to create another good chance but Paton slipped as he was about to shoot. Stirling suffered a blow when Morrison went off injured and it could have been even worse as Binnie could have easily been sent off for kicking out at McGuigan to prevent a quick throw in.

Paton came close again when he dispossessed Ross McGeachie but his shot was deflected wide. In stoppage time Stirling were gifted a goal when a long range effort was spilled by Chris Smith and his namesake Darren bundled the ball into the net.

This goal took the gloss off the performance and although there was a nervy end to the game the Warriors held on for all three points.