Stenhousemuir v East Fife at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 27.02.10

Irn Bru Scottish Second Division                       Att 476

Stenhousemuir 1 [McLeod 7] East Fife 1 [Young 87]

 

Despite going into the game once again with a depleted first team squad to choose from this was a game where it was definitely a case of points dropped rather than one gained. The Warriors gave Darren Smith on loan from Motherwell his debut  in the starting eleven, whilst Michael Hunter came on briefly at the end of the game in his first appearance in the first team after stepping up from the youth set up.

 

With East Fife also in the danger zone it was important for Stenhousemuir that the Fifers would not be able to get all three points and the home side made the best possible start with Chris McLeod opening the scoring. The route to goal was from a Kevin Motion corner and McLeod bundled the ball over the line from very close range. East Fife responded with a Stevie Crawford header that grazed d the post as it went past. As the game progressed however Stenhousemuir began to create the better opportunities and  

A stretching Scott Dalziel was unable to get a Motion free kick on target. Motion then had an effort that went wide after a clever back heel byIain Thomson created an opening. The main threat was from set pieces though and Gary Thom was denied by Michael Brown who saved his header from another Motion corner and Iain Diack was unlucky to see the rebound blocked by Crawford. Darren Smith had the chance to become an instant hero to the Ochilview faithful when played through by Dalziel just before half time but he took too long and eventually the attempt was cleared for a corner by David Muir. The corner an outswinger was met by a powerful Chris McLeod header and East Fife were grateful to see it deflected past the post in almost the last action of the first half.

 

Stenhousemuir had taken control of the first half but there were warning signs on the resumption that they were not going to get their own way in the second period when Lloyd Youngh had a diving header wide swiftly followed a Paul McManus effort that went just the wrong side of the post. Stenhousemuir almost snatched a second when Robert Love was allowed to run at the defence and he slid the ball down the right channel for Diack but his effort was saved by Brown. Smith had another opportunity in the 71^st minute when played through by Love but despite doing well to hold off his marker he slid his effort past the post with the keeper beaten.   

 

East Fife rung the changes in an attempt to get back into the game and the substitutes Bobby Linn and Stuart Cargill both made an impact in the game. Linn tested Chris McCluskey with a long range ewffort that the keeper comfortably saved and then Cargill came even closer with a hooked effort that struck the crossbar.

 

With three minutes left the Warriors had a corner but rather than play out time the corner was sent into the box and East Fife won the ball and made a swift counter attack. Cargill had a close range effort blocked by McCluskey but he could do nothing with the rebound that fell to Lloyd Young who dispatched the ball clinically into the net to give the Fifers a share of the spoils.

 

 

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Gibb, Lyle, McLeod, Thom, I.Thomson, Love [Hunter 89], D.Smith, Dalziel, Diack [Quinn 65] and Motion [b58]. Subs not used – Peebles, Dickson and Bennett

 

East Fife – Brown, Lowing [t], Campbell [Conway 86], Muir, Nugent, Murdoch [b43], Crawford [Cargill 80], Fagan [Linn 69], McManus, McCunnie and Young. Subs not used – Kerr and Baillie

 

Referee – Steve Conroy          Assistants – Chris Young and Kevin J.Graham,