Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Kilmarnock at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 3.4.21

Scottish Cup

Stenhousemuir 0 Kilmarnock 4 [Lafferty 38pen 45,56, Oakley 87]

Stenhousemuir – Martin, Tiffoney, Kane [Grigor 70], Yeats [b60], Hopkirk, Blair [Halleran 70], Tapping [b72], Hodge, Collins, McGuigan [McQueen h/t] and Biabi [Fairley 64].

Subs not used – Erskine, Shiels, Watters and McCracken

Kilmarnock – Doyle, Haunstrup, Broadfoot, Power [b74], McKenzie [Warnock 75], Dicker, Pinnock, Millen, Medley [Rossi 30], Lafferty [Oakley 61]and Burke [Tshibola 66].

Subs not used – Rogers, Kabamba, Whitehall, Waters and Mukumbu,

Referee – Greg Aitken                Assistants – Graeme Stewart and Colin Drummond

They talk about the magic or the romance of the Scottish Cup but the competition more than any other needs supporters to generate the atmosphere of a proper cup tie. The Warriors were forced to make several changes to the side with Tommy Muir joining Creag Little in the stand through suspension. Other players who were unavailable included Jack Brydon, Adam Corbett and Alan Docherty who were all cup tied.

When up against Premiership opposition as well as playing to a high level you also need a touch of luck in the game and it is fair to say that good fortune was not forthcoming in the game. Although the visitors had the bulk of the play they usually found Paddy Martin in the Stenhousemuir goal up to the task to keep them out.

There was a collision between Mark McGuigan and Zeck Medley that saw McGuigan heavily banaged to the head whilst Medley was taken to hospital for a possible broken cheek bone but luckily it was diagnosed as just heavily bruised.

Kilmarnock eventually took the lead in the 38^th minute when Kyle Lafferty was deemed to have been fouled by Jonathan Tiffoney in the penalty box and Lafferty subsequently converted the spot kick. The award was soft in nature to say the least and manager David Irons was cautioned for his protestations. Things got worse for Stenhousemuir in time added on when Lafferty scored his second after Chris Kane failed to clear and the ball was passed to the striker who made no mistake.

Lafferty who had featured for Northern Ireland in the recent internationals almost scored his third in the 50^th minute when a powerful header spun off the inside of the post and somehow went past the other post and out for a goal kick. He didn’t have to wait long for his hat trick though as he put Kilmarnock three up in 56 minutes with a tap in after Chris Burke sped through the Stenhousemuir before squaring the ball into the middle. Kilmarnock were now well on top and it looked as if it was just a case of how many they would score. Mitch Pinnock was denied when substitute Chris McQueen cleared off the line.

Just before the hour Callum Yeats went down in the opposition box as he looked to go round Kirk Broadfoot. No penalty was the decision and probably the correct one. Yeats was cautioned for simulation. This was too much for the manager and once more showed his emotions and was duly sent to the stand.

Shortly after this Botti Biabi saw a shot blocked by Broadfoot’s backside but in the main the play was at the other end and Martin showed his worth with several top class saves with the best denying Aaron Tshibola on a couple of occasions. The keeper though could do nothing to stop George Oakley scoring his first goal in Killie colours as he made it four nil before the final whistle.

Footnote – this was the first hat trick against Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Cup since the 16^th of January 1967 when W.Carter of Queens Park scored a treble in a 3-0 victory for the Glasgow club.