Match Report

Peterhead v Stenhousemuir at Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead on 26.12.16

SPFL Ladbrokes League One              Att 427

Peterhead 0 Stenhousemuir 2  [McAllister  70 og, McCormack 79]

Although Peterhead have not hit the heights of last season a trip to the Blue Toon on Boxing Day would normally be far down the list of venues that Stenhousemuir would wish to travel. This feeling would be exacerbated by the fact that there were two late call offs when Fraser Kerr was sent home as it was clear that his back injury wouldn’t improve on the bus journey and Ross Meechan was unavailable due to illness that hindered his training on the Saturday prior to the game and had got worse. This meant that the middle of the defence had to be re-organised and Grant Hamilton who hasn’t played in a first team game for a while and David Marsh who was recovering from a hamstring pull were drafted in.

Both players proved up to the task in a game where both sides struggled with a cross field wind that ruined any chance of flowing football. Mark Gilhaney was also drafted in instead of Ally Roy as the team looked to become more compact to adapt to the conditions.

Jamie Redman had a shot charged down in the eighth minute for the home side, but it was the Peterhead keeper that was forced into the first save in the 10^th minute when he saved an Alan Cook strike and Flacre Kelleher did well to block Willis Furtado’s effort from the rebound. Gilhaney saw a strike saved just afterwards but there was little constructive play with the elements affecting the ebb and flow. Nicky Riley was unlucky to find no takers with a teasing cross in the 22^nd minute. Cook and Gilhaney had further attempts but the best chance fell to Redman after Rory McAllister had eluded his marker but Riley’s effort was poor and Colin McCabe made a comfortable save.

The big keeper has had his critics but he did well in the conditions and kept Stenhousemuir in the game immediately after the resumption with a double save to keep the score level.  In the 52^nd minute Peterhead for once got behind the Stenhousemuir defence and Riley managed to round the keeper, he was pushed wide though and his effort hit the side netting.

It always looked as if it would be either a piece of brilliance or a mistake that would bring about a goal and the Warriors were celebrating their first goal in the 71^st minute. A Gilhaney shot had been put out for a corner and when Alan Cook whipped it in towards the near post Peterhead’s McAllister could only guide the ball into his own net.

Those that were watching Sky Sports Centre thought the home side had taken the lead as they incorrectly gave the goal to The Blue Toon before reversing their announcement.  [There would have been more Stenhousemuir supporters watching the television than at the game]

The home side fought hard to try and get back on level terms. Rory McAllister worked an opening to make up for his error and when he turned David Marsh inside out before picking out a run from Jordon Brown he must have thought he had done so. The substitute hit a first time effort but Colin McCabe did well to get behind the shot and divert it for a corner.

With eleven minutes left the Warriors went two up. A Cook free kick was fumbled by Fraser Hobday and Jamie McCormack reacted first to slam into the net from close range.  Jordon Brown and fellow sub Leighton McIntosh had chances before the end but failed to take them and the Warriors ran out deserved winners.

Peterhead – Hobday, Stevenson, Noble, Ross [b87], Kelleher, S.Brown, Riley [b62], Redman [McIntosh 60], McAllister, Ferry and Baptie [J.Brown 73]. Subs not used – Smith, Dzierzawski, Rumsby and Nassor

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack [b82], Summers, Marsh, Hamilton [b41], Berry, Furtado [Shaw 76], Millar, McMenamin, Gilhaney [McCroary 92] and Cook [Roy 89]. Sub not used – Robertson

Referee – Craig Napier          Assistants – Anthony Cooper and Daniel McFarlane