Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Edinburgh City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 30.9.17

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 412

Stenhousemuir 3 [McMenamin 65, McGuigan 78,86] Edinburgh City 0

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Meechan, M.Dunlop, R.Dunlop, Paterson [Longworth 85], Ferry, McGuigan, Paton, McMenamin [Ferns 75], Scott [Murray 87] and Donaldson. Subs not used – Marsh, Allan, McMinn and Blockley.

Edinburgh City – Antell, Mackie, Walker, Laird [Blake 80], Thomson, Belmokhtar, Grimes, Hall [Allan 75], Tera, Dunn and Morrison [Caddow 32]. Subs not used – Morton, Malin, Rodger and Smith.

Referee – Craig Charleston   Assistants – Graham Chambers and Andy Taylor

The Warriors kept the same starting eleven as they tried to continue their decent home form in this first ever SPFL game against Edinburgh City.  The early stages were fairly level with the weather being the main talking point with heavy rain followed by hailstones drenching the players in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Both teams were to create chances in the opening encounters though with Martin Scott for Stenhousemuir and Ashley Grimes for City calling the opposition keepers into action though they were able to save without much difficulty.

Possibly the best chance fell to Stenhousemuir though when Ruaridh Donaldson whipped a cross in from the left that was met by a diving header from Colin McMenamin but from close range his attempt went wide. John Dunn picked up an injury for the visitors in the move and was subsequently substituted.

In the 33^rd minute there was controversy when Chris Smith was deemed to have picked up a Donaldson clearance/pass and the referee awarded a free-kick which was taken from the six yard line with every Stenhousemuir player on the goal line. Somehow the ball was kept out though Mark McGuigan needed treatment after picking up a head knock. 

The second half started with a quick shot by Josh Walker that Chris Smith had to be alert to but as the game progressed Stenhousemuir began to take over. Stuart Morrison had to be at the top of his game to thwart McGuigan and Scott in quick succession but he was unable to prevent Stenhousemuir taking the lead in the 65^th minute. A long throw by Donaldson was picked up by McGuigan whose pace down the line took him away from his marker and his cross was met by a stretching McMenamin at the back post and he was able to steer the ball into the net.

Three minutes later it looked as if Stenhousemuir had their second when McGuigan converted after Calum Antell fumbled a McMenamin but if was chalked off for offside. Harry Paton then created another chance which ended when McGuigan’s shot hit a defender and this was followed shortly after this by another close encounter when City scrambled an effort off the line. Their luck ran out though when Paton was bundled to the ground by Jordan Caddow and a penalty was converted by McGuigan. With four minutes left the striker latched onto a poor header back to the keeper and deftly lifted the ball over Antell and into the net. He almost got his hat trick just before the end of the game when Innes Murray in a short cameo showed his turn of pace down the flank before flashing a cross for McGuigan who just failed to make contact. Still he would be happy with another double and his ninth league goal of the campaign so far.

At the end of the game Edinburgh City manager Gary Jardine announced his resignation from the Citizens and thus ending a 13 year relationship with the club as a player then manager. In contrast Brown Ferguson was to be selected as the League Two Manager Of The Month whilst Mark McGuigan’s double helped him become the Player Of The Month.