Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Stranraer v Stenhousemuir at Stair Park, Stranraer on 15.09.18
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 327
Stranraer 2 [Turner 43, Cameron 65] Stenhousemuir 0

Stranraer – Currie, McGowan, Brownlie, D.Smith, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Anderson [Diver 84], Layne [Cameron 60] and Donnelly [Higgins 73]. Subs not used – Avci, Lamont, I.Smith and Elliott

Stenhousemuir – G.Smith, Reid [Cook 70], Donaldson, Neill, Tena [b38], Gibbons [Paton 56] , Ross, Vaughan [McMenamin 79], Duthie. O’Hara and Dickson. Subs not used – McBrearty, Ferry, Halleran and McMinn.

Referee – Craig Napier Assistants – Ivan Stankovic and Craig McCrae

Although the statistics show that Stenhousemuir had the bulk of possession and had more shots at goal than Stranraer and more corners as well the basic fact was that they rarely looked like scoring and that home keeper Max Currie was rarely tested. Stranraer on the other hand were more clinical in their finished to ultimately win a two goal margin.

Bobby Ray Vaughan started the game as Mark McGuigan was best man at his brothers wedding but the Londoner was rarely involved in the game as he suffered from a supply of the ball. On the bench was Harry Paton who had returned to Stenhousemuir from his now parent club Ross County and although he came on after 56 minutes he was unable to make an impact.

Stenhousemuir started well and a Seb Ross shot was deflected for a corner by Jamie Hamill in the 7th minute. The best chance though fell to Isaac Layne, returning from injury, after a misjudgement by Tena and he ran on goal only to be denied by a strong hand by Graeme Smith.

The first goal for Stranraer came just before the break when Kyle Turner and Luke Donnelly combined and when Donnelly slid his pass behind the Stenhousemuir defence to Turner the youngster took full advantage to tuck the ball into the net.

The introduction of Innes Cameron bolstered the home attack and the on loan player from Kilmarnock marked his Stranraer debut with the second and decisive goal. Stenhousemuir had been on the attack before losing possession and the ball was played up to Cameron who not surprisingly beat Alan Reid who was the last defender for pace and although Graeme Smith made a fine one handed stop he was unable to prevent Cameron tapping the ball home.

Reid was subbed just afterwards as Brown Ferguson brought Alan Cook on in an attempt to get back into the game. It almost paid dividends in the 76th minute when Cook picked out Seb Ross in the middle but with just the keeper to beat he shot wide of the target. Two minutes later it was Vaughan who shot wide from a Cook cross.

At the other end Ciaran Diver should really have extended the lead after Jesus Garcia Tena got too tight to Cameron who was able to roll past him and set up Diver but his shot was saved by Smith.

In the end Stranraer were winners by the two goal margin and although they won they will play better and lose. This defeat sees Stenhousemuir drop to ninth in the league though the season is still in the first quarter. What will be more worrying though is the fact that Stenhousemuir have still to register their first goal away from home in all competitions this season.