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Stenhousemuir F.C.Match Report
MATCH REPORT
Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir at Forthbank, Stirling on 28.9.19
SPFL Ladbrokes League Two Att 602
Stirling Albion [Heaver 86] Stenhousemuir 1 [Halleran 31]
Stirling Albion – Currie, McGeachie, Creaney [b89], Nicol, McLean, McGregor, Jardine, Wilson [Thomson 73], Duffy [Heaver 58], Bikey and Hawke. Subs not used – Binnie, Truesdale, Banner, Docherty and Wright.
Stenhousemuir – Smith, O’Neil, Marsh, Halleran, McGuigan [Anderson 85], Hopkirk, Cook [Scullion 73], McLaughlin, M.Munro [Dykes 82], A.Munro and Gibson [b70]. Subs not used – Marley and, Watters.
Referee – Lloyd Wilson Assistants – Graham McNeillie and Steven Wilson
This was David Iron’s first official game in charge of the Warriors after his caretaker role the previous week. There was one change however in the fact that he was able to stand in the technical area after having served the last game of his suspension earned whilst at Gretna 2008. By a twist of fate the referee on that day was Lloyd Wilson who just happened to be the referee for this game as well.
Stenhousemuir had moved up the table with the three points earned against Brechin City and would have been hoping to widen the margin between t hem and their local rivals who along with Brechin were the only two teams below them in the table.
Stirling by all reports had been doing well up to a point this season and had the best defensive record in the division but they also had the worst scoring second with Josh Peters with three league goals being the only scorer this season.
In the opening exchanges the Warriors had a half chance when Thomas Halleran picked out Mark McGuigan who had space in the danger area but he got the ball trapped under his feet and eventually the threat was snuffed out. Lax defending at the other end gave Stirling a chance but David Wilson shot into the side netting when he should have tested the keeper. That was a rare foray from the hosts though with most of the play being at the other end of the field though Blair Currie in the home goal wasn’t too troubled. In the 18th minute Alan Cook came close after stepping inside his marker and firing a right foot shot just over the bar. A minute later a timely block by Paul McLean thwarted Andy Munro.
Dylan Bikey was a threat for Stirling though and his cross-shot in the 26th minute only needed a touch to steer it towards goal but there were no takers. Stenhousemuir were on top though and they were rewarded for their play in the 31st minute through an unusual source when Thomas Halleran tucked the ball home. The scorer wasn’t unexpected but the execution was as it was through a header from a David Hopkirk cross that was steered into the net,
Graeme Smith did well to stop a Darryl Duffy effort before half time and made a better save just after the resumption to stop a Bikey effort that had been deflected. The best chance though for the Albion though fell to Lewis Hawke who shot over the bar from only six yards out in the 52nd minute after the defence failed to cut out a ball down the middle of the pitch..
As the game progressed the home side looked the more likely to score with Bikey in particular being a threat though in the main he was well marshalled by Chris O’Neil who had to be careful in timing his interceptions and tackles to prevent free kicks being awarded. The Frenchman was unlucky not to score when a shot was only partially blocked but somehow Smith who had already committed himself managed to stretch out a hand to make a top class save. With five minutes left Andy Munro came close with a header from a Willie Gibson free-kick but a minute later Albion drew level when Sean Heaver scored his first ever league goal taking full advantage of yet another ball down the middle not been cleared. The game was definitely a tale of two halves and over the 90 minutes a draw was a fair result after a first half that had shown so much promise.
