Match Report

Peterhead v Stenhousemuir at Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead on 2.1.16

Ladbrokes League One                  Att 588

Peterhead 4 [Redman 5, Stevenson 53, McAllister 76, Dzierzawski 81] Stenhousemuir 1 [Cook 33]

Peterhead – Smith, Strachan, Sutherland, Gilchrist [b65], Stevenson, Redman [b73], Ferry, Riley [Ross 72], McAllister [Rodgers 79], Dzierzawski and Brown [Ferries 66]. Subs not used – McIntosh and Jarvie.

Stenhousemuir – Gould, McCormack, Paterson [Henderson 56], Meechan, Murray, J.Robertson [Mazana 79], Gilhaney, Millar, McMenamin, Small [b83][Stirling 89] and Cook [b62]. Subs not used – Barclay, Malcolm, Marenghi and Eddington.

Referee – David Munro                Assistants – Raymond Whyte and Mark McHendry

As seems to be the norm at this time of year it was a windswept Balmoor encounter for this ‘derby’ game. The conditions were difficult for both sides when playing against the wind but the home side overall adapted better to the weather and ultimately picked up a deserved three points. The Warriors kept the same team that had beaten Airdrie under difficult conditions but on this occasion were up against a confident Peterhead team that are scoring on a regular basis.

The home side took the game to the visitors at the start of the match and were rewarded for their efforts after only five minutes when Jamie Redman headed home a Shane Sutherland free-kick. A minute later it was almost two when Matty Gould rushed out to clear his lines but the ball fell to Sutherland who chipped him but the shot from 25 yards went over the bar. In the 7^th minute Stenhousemuir had a decent chance of their own when Kieran Millar picked up a loose ball and played in Colin McMenamin but his first time shot went well wide of the target. Jon Robertson then had a 30 yard skidder pushed out for a corner by Graeme Smith.  The players were doing well to put passages of play together with the rain now pouring down as well. In the 20^th minute the game was plunged into semi-darkness as the floodlights went out but after a five minute delay the game resumed and the lights were soon back on full power. Immediately after this there were chances once again at both ends of the park and Stenhousemuir went closest on the half hour when a Euan Murray header from a Mark Gilhaney corner was cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. In the 33^rd minute though the Warriors were level when Alan Cook’s shot from 35 yards flew into the top corner leaving Smith helpless. The score-line was still level at half time though Rory McAllister will have felt that he should have scored first with glancing header that went wide and then a dink chip that went just over after he turned his marker.

With the wind strengthening Peterhead went into a shoot at all times policy and this was highlighted by Gould having to save from the restart after Jordan Brown shot from the halfway line. Lewis Small had a claim for a penalty turned down in the 47^th minute but it was a rare Stenhousemuir attack as Peterhead took control. A Jamie Stevenson shot from inside his own half was saved in the 52^nd minute but he only had a minute to wait before he scored when he picked up the ball 35 yards out and wasn’t closed down before he fired an unstoppable effort into the net. The home side were in the ascendancy now and they came close on several occasions with Gould making a double save to deny Kevin Dzierzawski and Redman. At the other end a Liam Henderson cross found no takers before more chances fell Peterhead’s way. Eventually they got their third goal when McAllister tucked home a rebound and they made it four in the 81^st minute when a poor McMenamin pass across field was picked up by Dzierzawsi and he drove forward before firing another powerful strike into the net. This completed the scoring and after a first half that showed promise Peterhead dominated the second as the Stenhousemuir midfield fell apart and went unable to cope with the tactics of the home side.