Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Ayr United at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 24.10.15

Ladbrokes SPFL League One                        Att 727

Stenhousemuir 0  Ayr United 1

Stenhousemuir – Barclay, McCormack [Mazana 77], Paterson [Murray h/t][b90], Malcolm [b90], Meechan, Robertson [so 90], Gilhaney, Millar, McMenamin, Small [Scotland 60] and Cook. Subs not used – Shaw, Stirling, McCroary and Marenghi.

Ayr United – Fleming, Devlin, Boyle, Docherty, McLaughlan, Graham, Gilmour [Donald 53], Crawford, Preston [Adams 71], Trouten [Forrest 85] and Caldwell

Subs  not used – Newman, Muir,  Nisbet and McCracken

Referee – Greg Aitken   Assistants – William Cowie and Colin Whyte.

Ayr came into this game as firm favourites as they were unbeaten in their last ten league games whilst Stenhousemuir had seeking their first win in five games. There were a couple of fresh faces in the squad since the last home game with Lewis Small making his home debut after scoring as a sub at Cowdenbeath the previous week and Jason Scotland last with Hamilton Academical taking a place on the bench.

Ayr started the game full of confidence and went into attack from the start of the game, it was the Warriors though that created the first real chance when a Mark Gilhaney cross was headed by Colin McMenamin to Alan Cook whose strike went over the bar. Cook returned the favour in the sixth minute but McMenamin headed wide. In the 9^th minute though the visitors took the lead when Robbie Crawford sliced open the Stenhousemuir defence and Ross Caldwell fired first time into the net.

After that goal Ayr took control of the game and they created a number of chances for the rest of the half. Nicky Devlin turned Jim Paterson to create an opening in the 13^th minute and Jordan Preston will have felt that he should have extended the lead but shot wide. Ross Docherty did the same minutes later but the closest that they came was when an Alan Trouten effort was beaten out by Jamie Barclay and Ayr then failed to capitalise on the resultant scramble. Devlin then had a shot saved before a powerful shot from Brian Gilmour was tipped over the bar. Caldwell and Trouten had further chances before the interval whilst at the other end only Ross Meechan with a long range effort called Greg Fleming into action.

The second half started in the same mode with Ayr in the ascendancy and Trouten saw a shot pushed out for a corner and a one handed clutch by Barclay denied Caldwell as he attempted to chip the keeper. In the 56^th minute McMenamin struck a powerful volley just wide under pressure from Devlin and three minutes later the ex-Warrior caused problems at the other end when his cross was met by Ally Graham but somehow Barclay rescued the situation. That looked to be vital when Stenhousemuir were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after Jon Robertson had been fouled just inside the box. Colin McMenamin slipped though when taking the kick and Fleming was able to save with his foot. Although Gilhaney and Cook had chances after that the best fell to Euan Murray in the 84^th minute but a superb one handed save by Fleming prevented an equaliser. In the last minute of the game Jon Robertson endured the wrath of the referee with a tackle that Mr Aitken deemed worthy of a red card and thus the game ended on a sour note for the home support.