Match Report

Dunfermline Athletic v Stenhousemuir

at East End Park, Dunfermline on 13.9.14

SPFL Division One Att 2,671

Dunfermline Athletic 2 [Thomson 54, Moffat 84 pen] Stenhousemuir 0

Although this game was played on a Saturday it felt more like a Friday the thirteen match for the Warriors who may have nightmares for a while after a below par performance with Dunfermline winning the game with ease.

The visitors gave a debut to Gary Oliver who had been signed on loan from Hearts but he rarely had a chance to show his potential.

The game started in the worst possible fashion as in the first minute Greg Fleming and Bryan Hodge both took knocks.

The keeper was caught by Chigozie Ugwu who was late with an attempt to meet a through ball. Luckily he was able to continue but the venue doesn’t seem to a lucky one for Stenhousemuir custodians as Chris Smith was lucky not to suffer serious injury last season.

Bryan Hodge’s diagnosis was worse though as he dislocated a shoulder making a slide tackle and is unlikely to play for at least six weeks.

Stenhousemuir had an opportunity in the 13th minute following one of the few passing moves in the game but Paul Sludden failed to pull the trigger and the chance was gone. The home side quickly transferred play to the other end as they showed their attacking prowess but luckily on this occasion nothing came of the move. A minute later Josh Falkingham cut inside from his right before picking out Michael Moffat and his effort struck the crossbar. That was the closest that any side came to opening the scoring in the first half with Stenhousemuir rarely threatening as the forwards were well marshalled by the home defender s whilst Dunfermline had more possession and territory but were usually thwarted by either Ross McMillan or Stewart Greacen though both were cautioned at some stage in the game as they endeavoured to keep Dunfermline at bay.

Stenhousemuir made a change at half time with Colin McMenamin replacing Paul Jon Sludden but this was not to have the desired effect as the home side took the initative from the start of the second half. Indeed Ryan Thomson and Falkingham both forced Greg Fleming into action within the space of two minutes.

Dunfemline did eventually take the lead though in the 54th minute when a Falkingham corner was headed home by Thomson after he managed to elude his marker to head a powerful header into the net. Thomson forced Fleming to make another save to keep the score down in the 58th minute as the Pars looked to extend their lead. Just after the hour Martin Grehan was unlucky after making room for himself before curling an effort past the post.

This was as good as it got for Stenhousemuir as it was downhill after that. Colin McMenamin was involved in a tussle at a throw in with Lewis Spence and both were cautioned in the 63rd minute. Six minutes later McMenamin was dismissed for handball, a Ross Meechan shot flew his way and McMenamin dived to meet the ball and although it may have struck his head first it hit his hand and the referee deemed it intentional and gave him a second caution.

Ryan Scully made a fine save to stop this effort and it is ironic that the only time he was required to make a save didn’t count due to the infringement as he had possibly the easiest game of his career.

With six minutes left Dunfermline doubled their lead when Michael Moffat sent Greg Fleming the wrong way from the penalty mark after Ciaran Summers had tripped the marauding Ryan Williamson who had caused problems throughout the game. After the second goal it was just a case of hoping that the game would finish without further damage and this was achieved thanks to a stunning save from Fleming at point blank range with three minutes left.

Dunfermline Athletic – Scully, Williamson, Drummond, Martin, Buchanan, Geggan, Thomson [Stirling 69], Spence [b63], Moffat, Falkingham and Ugwu. Subs not used – Goodfellow, Byrne, Forbes, Urquhart, El Bakhtaoui and Smith

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Meechan, Greacen [b43], McMillan [b62], Summers, K.Millar, Faulds, Hodge [Dickson 3][Watt], Grehan, Sludden [McMenamin h/t][b63][so69] and Oliver. Subs not used – Shaw, Duncan, Lithgow and R.Millar.

Referee – Craig Charleston Assistants – Ross Haswell and Colin McAlpine