Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Stenhousemuir v Raith Rovers at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 17.11.18
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 797
Stenhousemuir 1 [McGuigan 67] Raith Rovers 3 [Armstrong 11,87, Crane 58]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid [Vaughan 63], McBrearty, Neill, Donaldson, Gibbons, Ferry [O’Hara 81], Duthie, Paton, Dickson [McMenamin 86] and McGuigan. Subs not used – McMinn, Tena, Halleran and Paterson

Raith Rovers – Thomson [b90], Crane, Davidson, Murray, Benedictus [b82], Buchanan, [Milne 78] Mathews, Nisbet [b21], Flanagan, Watson and Armstrong [McKay 89]. Subs not used – Silva, Stevenson, Valentine and Bowie.

Referee – John McKendrick Assistants – Ivan Stankovic and Richard Murray

With no permanent manager appointed yet it fell to Colin McMenamin to take the team. Although Raith were sitting second in the league their away record was fairly ordinary and they were looking to narrow the gap on Arbroath at the top whilst Stenhousemuir were hoping to move off the bottom of the table.

Raith Rovers have the top scorer in the league with Kevin Nisbet having averaged more than a goal a game but his first involvement in this game was to be provider rather than scorer as he fizzed a cross in from the left flank that caused the Stenhousemuir defence and Daniel Armstrong took full advantage to head home at the far post.

The visitors were on top after that goal but Stenhousemuir who were forced to defend, sometimes in numbers, managed to repel the attacks. The first opportunity for the Warriors came in the 21st minute when Harry Paton picked out Mark McGuigan but the striker had to stretch too far and was unable to get any power in his effort.

There was a major scare when poor defending allowed Raith to retrieve the ball and Kyle Benedictus fired over. The home side did come more into the game towards the end of the half but they were restricted in the main to shots from distance.

Raith started the second half brightly and Armstrong was denied by a Graeme Smith save and then Liam Buchanan was thwarted by a timely tackle by Connor McBrearty. The best chance for Stenhousemuir came in the 55th minute when Conner Duthie made an opening for himself but fired over the bar.

Just after this however Raith extended their lead when Buchanan picked out Calum Crane on the edge of the box and he steered the ball into the net. On the hour a ball over the top of the Raith defence for McGuigan to run on to but his effort was saved by Robbie Thomson. The visitors didn’t learn their lesson though and in the 67th minute they were punished as McGuigan was presented with an almost identical opportunity and this time he took full advantage to stroke the ball into the net.

Raith had a good chance through the usually deadly Nisbet which Smith was able to block. At the other end of the park though Harry Paton saw an effort saved by Thomson and Bobby Vaughan hit a Ruaridh Donaldson cross just wide of the mark.

With Stenhousemuir pushing for the equaliser they were vulnerable to counter attacks and Donaldson did well to retrieve a dangerous situation and clear for a corner after he managed to track back to save the day.

With three minutes of the game left however Armstrong put the game beyond doubt when he hit a shot into the top corner of the net with Smith unable to get near the ball. This was his last action of the game as he was substituted before the restart.
All in all a hard working effort but once again for no reward.