Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Ayr United at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 20.04.13

Irn Bru Scottish Second Division                 Att 497

Stenhousemuir 4 [Dickson 5, Gemmell 19, 40 pen, Smith 55] Ayr United 0

Stenhousemuir went into this game having won their last two matches and were hoping to make it a hat-trick and therefore keep their slim play-off hopes alive. The Warriors kept the same starting eleven that had beat the league champions Queen of the South in midweek and they continued in the same vein of form in this game.

It took until only the fifth minute of the game to take the lead when a patient  build up was rewarded when Darren Smith swung in a cross from the right that was met by a diving header by Sean Dickson to put the home side ahead. Dickson had to receive treatment after the goal as he took a knock in his endeavour to net the cross.

The Warriors continued to be the driving force in the game and the only surprise was that it took until the 19^th minute before they extended their lead. A Jamie Reid corner to the back post was headed across goal by Ross McMillan to John Gemmell who headed into the net for his 20^th goal of the deason.

Ayr were struggling to get into the game but they did have a couple of chances before the half hour to reduce the deficit.  Neil McGregor heading a corner just wide in the 20^th minute and then Liam Buchanan shot wide in the 30^th. These however were rare attacks against a Stenhousemuir side that looked in control of the game. Indeed Stenhousemuir almost extended their lead in the 33^rd minute when a Jamie Reid free kick picked out Sean Dickson but his effort from close range was well saved by Graeme Smith’s legs.  John Gemmell then shot just wide after creating space for himself to turn and shoot after aborting an overhead kick and this was almost followed by Kyle McAusland deflecting a Darren Smith effort into his own net.

Eventually the Warriors went three up in the 40^th minute. The goal came from the penalty mark with John Gemmell dispatching the penalty sending the keeper the wrong way. The award had came after Nicky Devlin had been fouled as he burst into the box by Chris Smith who was deemed to have denied a goal scoring opportunity and was therefore sent off.

Jamie Reid was then denied by Graeme Smith who parried a shot clear as Stenhousemuir looked to extend their lead before the interval.

The second period in some ways turned out to be a non-event as Ayr packed their defence in a case of damage limitation, whilst Stenhousemuir were happy to stroke the ball about. This would have suited Stenhousemuir after the rigours of the Queen of the South game as it meant that they could play at whatever tempo they desired. The Warriors did score a fourth goal in the 55^th minute through an exquisite interchange of passes between Darren Smith and John Gemmell that saw the former end up tucking the ball into the net past the advancing keeper.   

There was a partial scare at the other end when two Stenhousemuir players collided but no Ayr players were able to take advantage of the rare slip up. At the other end a Kevin McKinlay effort from 30 yards was scrambled out by Graeme Smith for a corner and the Warriors came even closer in the 84^th minute when another dangerous Reid corner struck the crossbar.

With seven minutes left Ciaran Summers came on for his first team debut and the 18 year old almost had a start he would not forget as he turned a cross onto his own post. He however showed a cool head not to panic and was able to clear the rebound.

The final whistle blew with Stenhousemuir leading 4-0 and though they worked hard and pressed Ayr into submission they managed to look comfortable throughout and hopefully will be able to transfer this through to the tail end of the season.

Stenhousemuir – C.Smith, Devlin, Ross, McKinlay, McMillan, Hodge [b90], Reid, Rowson [Summers 83], Gemmell [Kouider-Aissa 70], D.Smith [Corcoran 79] and Dickson. Subs not used – I.Thomson and Shaw.

Ayr United – G.Smith, McAusland, Donald, McCann, McGregor, C.Smith [so 40], Wyllie, Crawford, Moffat [Marenghi 81], Buchanan [McStay 54] and McLaughlin. Subs not used – Winters, Sinclair and Brown.

Referee – David Somers                               Assistants – Billy Baxter and Scott Millar