Match Report

Airdrieonians v Stenhousemuir at New Broonfield Park Airdrie on 8.11.14

SPFL Division One Att 743

Airdrieonians 2 [Fraser 8, Parker 32] Stenhousemuir 0  

Airdrieonians – McNeil, O’Neil, P.Boyle, Fitzpatrick, Gasparotto, Richards Everton [b63], Gray, Fraser, Lister [Prunty 71], Parker [J.Boyle 87] and Watt [Bain 71]. Subs not used – Stewart, Ferguson, Cadden and Richford.  

Stenhousemuir –Fleming, Lithgow, Greacen, McMillan, Summers, K.Millar [b60], Hodge [Reid 72], Eddington [Fotheringham h/t], Grehan [Dickson h/t], Walsh and McMenamin.  

Referee – Don Robertson

Assistants – Ralph Gordon and Willie Ferguson.  

Stenhousemuir were hoping to make it a hat trick of wins against Airdrie this season after being victorious in the previous two encounters. Martin Grehan came back into the starting eleven along with Ciaran Summers and Bryan Hodge with Robbie Duncan, Kris Faulds and Jamie Reid dropping on to the bench. In the first few minutes of the game it looked to be an open affair with both teams creating half chances or better but the game was effectively finished as early as the eighth minute when Liam Watt crossed for Scott Fraser and the on-loan player from Dundee United struck a sweet shot from the edge of the ‘d’ into the net.  

This goal gave the Diamonds confidence and for the period after this they looked the more capable team to get the next goal. The first attempt at goal from Stenhousemuir after this came in the 24th minute through a Tom Walsh shot that was more hit and hope rather than with conviction and it went well wide of the target. The Airdrie keeper Andy McNeil was eventually called into action to make a routine save from another long range effort, this time by Bryan Hodge, that was at least on target.  

Airdrie almost doubled their lead on the half hour when Marc Fitzpatrick hit a powerful strike from 20 yards that went just the wrong side of the post with Greg Fleming stranded. The home support didn’t have long to wait for another goal though as they extended the lead two minutes later.

Stenhousemuir gave the ball away very cheaply and were to pay the punishment for playing too high a defensive line as Keigan Parker timed his run and collected the ball around the halfway line before advancing on goal and tucking the ball past Greg Fleming. The goal itself was disappointing but the fact that Airdrie had effectively a three on zero attack was worrying to say the least.   From that moment to the end of the half it was one-way traffic and Airdrie could and probably extended their lead before the interval. There was another let off a minute later when once again the offside trap was breached but luckily for Stenhousemuir the opportunity passed. Three minutes later Fleming saved from Scott Gray. Shortly after this Paddy Boyle and Liam Watt combined to open up the defence again and Fleming was forced into action once again to save Boyle’s shot. Ben Richards Everton then headed wide when he had time to pick his spot.

Somehow Stenhousemuir got to half time only two goals down. Manager Scott Booth made a double substitution and a change of formation to try and stem the flow and get back into the game. The main feature was to bolster the midfield that had looked over run in the first period and this had added pressure to the defence. It didn’t work in the early stages and Fleming kept the Warriors in the game saving from Parker in a one on one situation. He then made a double save to keep the score down on the hour.  

Colin McMenamin was lucky to avoid injury in the 63rd minute following a rash tackle by Richards Everton who was booked and the Warrior had an attempt at goal three minutes later after Dickson made a key block. McMenamin’s effort though came closer to hitting the corner flag than the back of the net. In the closing stages of the game Stenhousemuir created their best chances with a Tom Walsh back-heel opening up the Airdrie defence but Dickson shot narrowly wide of the target and in the last minute McNeil tipped a McMenamin header over the bar but overall it was a convincing victory for Airdrie who leapfrogged Stenhousemuir in the league.