Stenhousemuir v Brechin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 21.11.09

Irn Bru Scottish Second Division                               Att 551

Stenhousemuir 1 [Motion 42 pen] Brechin City 1 [McAllister 29]

 

Despite media speculation the manager John Coughlin stuck with the same starting eleven for this game against Brechin City as he sought to repeat he win against Alloa seven days previous. The Warriors even wore the same away strips for this game but that was not part of the plan as referee Matt Northcroft deemed that there was a colour clash and with the options being that Brechin wore Stenhousemuir’s away strip or Stenhousemuir wore it the sensible solution of Stenhousemuir changing was taken

 

The game started slowly for both teams as they tried to get into a rhythm and it took until the 13^th minute before either team had a chance. Neil Janczyk was slack with a cross field pass and it was picked up by Kevin Motion who fired a dipping effort just over the bar. A minute later the Warrior’s came even closer to scoring when a Scott Dalziel headerat the back post from a corner kick had to be cleared off the line by Jonathan Seeley.

 

The visitors had a strong call for a penalty in the 28^th minute when Stephen Thomson under pressure stumbled and fell to the ground and in his desperation to get the ball out of play appeared to used his elbow to knock the ball forward before heading out from an almost prostrate position. Despite it being only feet away from the standside assistant no penalty was forthcoming.

 

Brechin up to that point had plenty of the play but had rarely threatened Chris McCluskey before they took the lead a minute later with their first effort on target. Rory McAllister showed just why he is joint top scorere in the league when he rose high to meet a Willie Dyer cross and placed a perfectly positioned header out of reach of McCluskey. This gave the Brechin side a lift and McAllister almost doubled the lead when he headed a Bobby Barr corner just wide of the target.

 

Stenhousemuir got back into the game in the 42^nd minute when Kevin Motion converted from the penalty spot despite Craig Nelson partly blocking the shot. The award had been controversial as although Paul McLean did indeed hand a Motion flick it was debatable whether it was intentional and where it took place was also in question as it was borderline whether the deemed offence actually took place in the box. The referee looked to his assistant for guidance but when not was forthcoming he made the call that it was in the box mush to the chagrin of the Brechin players.

 

Stenhousemuir came close to taking the lead straight after the resumption when Motion volleyed an Iain Thomson cross just wide but as the game progressed Brechin began to look as if they were going to be the team to break the deadlock. Willie Dyer should have scored in 49 minutes but shot wide. The Brechin support thought they had taken the lead in the 52^nd minute through a McAllister strike that had taken a slight deflection over McCluskey but it was an optical illusion and the ball had went just over the bar though it looked in from the far end of the stand. McAllister was proving to be a major threat and in the 57^th minute he was picked out in space inside the box from a corner and blasted the ball goalwards but somehow McCluskey managed to get a strong hand to the shot and tip it over the bar. McCluskey proved his worth again saving from the resultant corner after the defence had failed to clear their lines. 

 

Stenhousemuir  for their part were trying hard to get in front but the forwards were usually crowded out but they looked to get a break in the 77^th minute when the ball fell to Iain Thomson in good position but his well struck effort was blocked by Seeley.

 

As the game progressed Brechin were the more dangerous and McCluskey was called into action on several occasions including tipping a Kris Renton header over the bar as well as denying McAllister once again before the final whistle eventually blew with honours even.

 

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Lyle, S.Thomson, I.Thomson, Smith, McLeod, Molloy, Scullion, Dalziel, Brand [Bradley 71] and Motion.

Subs not used – Love, O’Reilly, Stirling and Bennett.

 

Brechin City – Nelson, Walker, Dyer [b47], McLean, Seeley, Smith, King [Byers 71], Fusco [Renton 82], McAllister, Janczyk [Docherty 71] and Barr [b68].

Subs not used – Cowan and Scott.

 

Referee – Matt Northcroft          

Assistants – Keith Sorbie and Mark McKendry