Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Queens Park v Stenhousemuir at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 04.01.20

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 837

Queens Park 2 [Moore 26, Mortimer 40] Stenhousemuir 1 [Cook 47]

Queens Park – Muir, Mortimer [b10],  Summers [b68], Finnie, Foy, Little, Main [Purdue 66][b78], McGrory [b75], Koiuder-Aissa, Moore [b63][Agyeman 83] and Lidouren. Subs not used – Gibson, Clark, Grant, McGuire and Heraghty

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Armstrong, McBrearty [b55], McGuigan, Hopkirk, Cook, McLaughlin, McBride [Watters 57], Blair [O’Neil 90], A.Munro and, Tiffoney. Subs not used – Terry, Anderson, Dykes and Potter

Referee – Peter Stuart           Assistants – Gordon Crawford and Sean Henderson

The opening fixture of 2020 saw the Warriors make the short trip to Glasgow to play at the national stadium for potentially our last league game there. Stenhousemuir saw Conor McBrearty made his second debut for the club after joining on loan from St.Mirren.

Both teams had pot shots in the opening exchanges with Jonathan Tiffoney coming closest with a shot that hit the roof of the net. Alan Cook was then involved in a move that ended when his cross to Ryan Blair was intercepted and David Hopkirk saw a shot pushed out for a corner as the visitors took the game to their hosts.

In the 26^th minute though the game was transformed in  the home side’s favour when they took the lead. A probing pass by Calvin McGrory was taken by Billy Mortimer in his stride with his first touch leaving Cook in his wake and his cross to the back post was met by Kieran Moore to slide home.

As the game progressed Willie Muir did well to save Mark McGuigan in the 36^th minute and the striker was adjudged to have committed a foul in his attempt to follow up on the loose ball. Two minutes later McGuigan saw a glancing header from a Blair corner go wide. That miss could have been vital as Queens were to go further ahead in the 40^th minute with Mortimer this time being the marksman after making the most of a breakdown in play by Stenhousemuir that was promptly punished by a clinical finish after Mortimer was put through by Lewis Main.

Stenhousemuir have been slow to start games after the restart but on this occasion they were to get back into the game in the 47^th minute when Tiffoney won the ball before charging down the right flank and crossing into the danger area for Cook to pounce and fire home. There was another chance from the same area in the 55^th minute this time following a Hopkirk run but McGuigan seemed flat footed when meeting the cross but he did manage to get a touch to Connor McBride who saw his strike blocked for a corner at point blank range by the keeper.

As Stenhousemuir pushed to get the equaliser they were almost undone on the counter attack but Moore blasted over the bar with only the keeper to beat.