Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Stenhousemuir v Partick Thistle at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 14.07.18
Betfred Cup Sectional Match Att 675
Stenhousemuir 0 Partick Thistle 2 [Gordon 2,6]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid [McMenamin 67], Donaldson [Johnson 85], Neill, Tena, Gibbons [b83], McGuigan, Duthie, Cook and Halleran [Dickson 61]. Subs not used – McMinn, Sinclair, Ferry and Paterson.

Partick Thistle – Lennox [Hamilton h/t], Elliott [Storey 57], Penrice, O’Ware, McGinty, Spittal [b87], Doolan, Erskine [b87], Storar [[McCarthy 66], Gordon and Slater. Subs not used – Wilson and Fitzpatrick

Referee – Gavin Duncan Assistants – Drew Kirkland and Ewan Birch

The start of the competitive season for the Warriors could not have got off to a worse start as they found themselves two goals down after only six minutes a situation that they could not recover from. Stenhousemuir had received confirmation of new signings in the morning with Jesue Garcia Tena and Sean Dickson getting clearance and the former started hoping to establish a central defensive partnership with other new boy Morgyn Neill.

With Mark Ferry out through injury the captain’s armband was handed to Graeme Smith. The keeper though was to be beaten in only the second minute of the game when Shea Gordon scored the first of his two goals as he met a Blair Spittal pass before tucking the ball home from close range. Four minutes later the striker on loan from Motherwell scored his second after a James Penrice cross went behind the home defence and Gordon scored with a well executed chip that caught Smith flat footed.

At that stage it looked as if it would just be a matter of how many goals the visitors would score and Kris Doolan was to be denied by a great save by Smith only a couple of minutes later.

Although it took a while for the Warriors to recover from the initial setback they gradually fought their way back into the game and Aaron Lennox was called into action to save a Mark McGuigan shot after the striker had peeled off his marker. Three minutes later Kieran Gibbons and Alan Cook combined with the latter’s cross just missed in the middle by McGuigan. Cook though brought out a save from Lennox in the 22nd minute when he pushed a free kick out for a corner.

At the other end Neill did well to block after Penrice and Spittal combined to open up the home defence. Partick were forced into a substitution at half time when their goalkeeping injury jinx continued and Jamie Sneddon replaced Lennox who had suffered a pull in the first period.

Sneddon’s first save was a routine one from Seb Ross who steered a Ruaridh Donaldson cross goalwards but it lacked power. There were a couple of scares at the other end in quick succession with first of all Spittal being denied by a diving save from Smith in the 53rd minute and three minutes later Doolan should really have scored were unmarked following a Chris Erskine run but he tried to be too cute with the finish and failed to hit the target. They came even closer in the 63rd minute but this time it was not off their own making as Neill rattled a header off his own crossbar whilst attempting to clear a cross.

The introduction of Colin McMenamin to support Mark McGuigan made for a more potent attack and Jamie Sneddon did well tip a powerful strike by the veteran round the post in the 75th minute. A couple of corners later Cook struck top of the crossbar direct with an inswinging effort.

Partick almost had the final say though when an Erskine shot was cleared off the line by Alan Reid in the last minute. The Warriors performance improved as the game went on but they need to start games quicker as the last two games have saw them concede early