Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Brechin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 11.01.20

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 629

Stenhousemuir 2 [A.Munro 63, Hopkirk 80] Brechin City 2 [Hamilton 35, McManus 84]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, McBrearty, McGuigan [Biabi 84], Hopkirk, Cook [McBride 87], McLaughlin, Blair, A.Munro, Wilson, Tiffoney and Spence. Subs not used – Marley, O’Neil, Armstrong and Watters

Brechin City – McMinn, Reekie [B67], McIntosh, Brown, Hill, Page, Hamilton, Allan, Jackson, McCord [McManus 73]and Inglis [Knox 69]. Subs not used – Duncanson, Watt, Crawford, Ngoy and Sinclair

Referee – Chris Graham         Assistants – Jonathan Bell and Paul Timmons

This was a bottom of the league clash with Brechin knowing that if they picked up the three points they would go above Stenhousemuir so there was plenty of pressure on both sides.

David Irons introduced two new signings in defender Bon Wilson and forward Greig Spence both coming from Arbroath on permanent transfers.

The Warriors certainly had the better of the early exchanges and Mark McGuigan almost capitalised on a poor pass by Scott Reekie, advancing from the centre circle before firing a powerful drive that crashed off the crossbar. David Hopkirk then tested Lewis McMinn with a strike from close range and the Warrior was unlucky not to convert the rebound.

Despite the early pressure the home side could have found themselves in arrears when Olly Hamilton shot just wide but he was to have a say later in the game. Ryan McCord struck the crossbar seconds later with a shot from distance as the visitors came into the game after their shaky start. They took the lead in the 35^th minute when Hamilton tucked the ball home after a lay off by Andy Jackson who was making his return to Glebe Park on loan from Forfar. This spell of play knocked Stenhousemuir out of their stride though Alan Cook and Scott McLaughlin had efforts on the Brechin goal before the end of the half.

Jackson will have felt that he should have extended the lead just after the restart when he capitalised on Wilson allowing the ball to bounce and nipped in but Graeme Smith saved his effort.

Brechin then had an escape when a McGuigan shot was prodded goalwards and was only partly cleared by McMinn before spinning back towards goal where it was cleared off the line by Dougie Hill. Andy Munro then tested McMinn with a header from a corner before the captain equalised in the 63^rd minute with another header after Brechin failed to get a free-kick out of the danger area.  Dougie Hill came to the rescue once again with a superb block to deny Spence.

The Warriors were on top by now and they eventually took the lead with ten minutes left through an individual effort by Hopkirk who ran into the danger area before tucking the ball into the net.

To their credit Brechin fought back and when Scott Reekie’s cross was steered towards goal by Hamilton the veteran Paul McManus made sure of the goal with a clinical final touch after the home defence had switched off as the ball looked as if it had went out before the cross.

So the game ended with a point a piece and although Stenhousemuir had the bulk of the play and shots galore it will be Mark Wilson who will be the happier manager after picking up a point away from home.