3Match Report
East Stirlingshire v Stenhousemuir at Ochilview Park , Stenhousemuir on 03.01.09
Irn Bru Scottish League Three Att 814
East Stirlingshire 0 Stenhousemuir 3 [Dalziel 35, 69, Motion 37]
With all other games wiped out through bad weather the artificial pitch came to the rescue once again though the Shire would have been wishing that the game was cancelled as they fell to their second heavy home defeat in a row as the league leaders got back into winning ways.
After a few recent setbacks the Warriors got their league campaign back on track with this victory over tenants East Stirlingshire at Ochilview. The first game of the New Year was not the most exhilarating affair but was a professional performance by the league leaders that brought some unfair adverse criticism in some quarters of the media who overlooked the performance by the opposition in this game. The game started slowly and there was little action in the opening stages apart from Dean Richardson being booked for a tackle on Willie Lyle and it took until the 16th minute before the first effort from either side when Kevin Motion tried his luck from distance but was wild of the target.
As the game progressed the Shire came more into the game and a timely interception by Stevie Ferguson to deny Andy Rodgers in the 33rd minute was thee first real threat by the ‘home’ side. Two minutes later the Warriors took the lead when a Scott Bennett kick out was misjudged by ex-Stenhousemuir player Craig Tully and Scott Dalziel pounced on the mistake to clinically shoot past trialist keeper Barry John Corr. Two minutes later Stenhousemuir extended their lead through a great technical strike by Kevin Motion who had seen his first effort blocked and whilst lying on the ground still managed to get enough power and direction on the ball to put it into the net.
This appeared to be a wake up call for the Shire and almost immediately they saw a Brian Graham effort deflected just wide. From the resultant corner Tully almost atoned for his earlier mistake powering a header goalwards but was denied by a brilliant save by Bennett and this was followed up by a stop from Rodgers. This was to be the last time that Bennett had to make a stop in the game.
The second half saw the Shire come out full of intent and they did create several clear opportunities at the start but all were squandered. The breakthrough was not forthcoming though and Jim McInally rung the changes to get back into the game but it did not have the desired effect and if anything backfired as the Shire lost their momentum
Eventually the Warriors showed how it should be done when in a swift break they scored their third in the 69th minute when Dalziel, who was struggling with the flu, latched onto a pass before dispatching the ball into the net.
Before the end Rodgers struck the post from close range but the Warriors and Bennett in particular for his fine double save deserved the clean sheet for their efforts for a game where they worked hard as a team and although not creating as many chances as they would have liked they still thoroughly merited the three points
East Stirlingshire – Corr [t], Hay [McKenzie 57], Dunn, Donaldson, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Anderson [Kelly 73], Ure, Graham, Richardson[Cramb 57]and Rodgers
Subs not used – Oates and Newman
Stenhousemuir – Bennett, Lyle, Motion, Thom, Smith, Ovenstone, Thomson, Ferguson , Dalziel, Brand[Connolly 81]and Shirra. Subs not used – Renton , Love, Hampshire and Desmond.
Referee – John McKendrick
Assistants – Steven Allan and Gavin Ross
