Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir at Forthbank, Stirling on 28.04.18

SPFL Ladbroke League Two               Att 894

Stirling Albion 1 [McDonald 73] Stenhousemuir 1 [McMenamin 38]

Stirling Albion – Binnie, McGeachie, McNeil, Hamilton [McDonald 63], Barr, Moon [Caddis 76], Stanger, Black, McLaughlin, Jardine and Kavanagh [Dickson 80]. Subs not used – Noble, R.Smith, Banner and Wright.

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Meechan, M.Dunlop, R.Dunlop, Donaldson, Ferry, Ferns, Paton, McMenamin [McGuigan 83], Dallas [Scott 62] and Cook [Halleran 90]. Subs not used – Longworth and McMinn

Referee – Kevin Graham        Assistants – Willie Conquer and Mark McHendry

The last of the schedulded league matches and potentially the last game of the season saw a bumper crowd turn out at Forthbank with both sets of supporters hoping to see their teams continue into the play-offs. A win for either team would secure a place whilst a draw may have seen both teams progress if Clyde failed to beat Berwick a sufficient scoreline.

The Warriors came closest in the opening stages when Cammy Binnie saved a strong Michael Dunlop header from an Eddie Ferns free-kick. It was a cagey affair though and neither team really were creating too much trouble for the opposition.

Shortly after the Dunlop header the public address system announced that Berwick were beating Clyde and this subconsciously took the sting out of the game for a while much to the chagrin of both managers. Stenhousemuir were still on top and a series of corners during the first half caused problems in the Stirling defence but the final touch was lacking. Eventually the deadlock was broken in the 38^th minute when Ferns slipped down the channel before picking out Colin McMenamin who struck a first time shot into the net from 16 yards out.

The second half saw the home side get more space in the early stages and Daniel Jardine fired a Ross McGeachie cross just wide of the target in the 49^th minute. McGeachie who won the sponsors man of the match award came to Stirling’s rescue on the hour when he did well to get across and block a Ferns shot for a corner after a strong run by the Warrior.

The introduction of Peter McDonald to the home forward line added to the potency of the side and the experienced player secured an equaliser for Stirling in the 73^rd minute when he picked up a loose ball and fired a shot into the top corner giving Chris Smith no chance of stopping.

That could have induced a nervousness into the Stenhousemuir ranks but if it did they rarely showed it and although the Stirling substitutions made them a bigger threat most of the danger was at the other end of the park.

With two minutes left of the game the result could have been put beyond doubt when Harry Paton hit a powerful shot that was tipped over the bar by Binnie. However, the better option in this case would have been a square pass to Mark McGuigan who was unmarked and would have had a good chance to score on his return to action after being missing through a rib injury.

In the end though when the final whistle blew the draw was good enough for both sides to advance into the play-offs after Clyde lost out to Berwick with Jack Hamilton who had been injured in the midweek game against Stenhousemuir scoring a double for the Shielfielders,