Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Forres Mechanics at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 3.12.16

William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round Replay                    Att 289

Stenhousemuir 3 [McMenamin 12,15,81] Forres Mechanics 1 [Baxter 86 pen]

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack [b86], Summers, Marsh [b69][so 86], Kerr, Berry [b66], Gilhaney [Cook 63], Millar, Roy, McMenamin [McCroary 85] and Furtado [Meechan 88]. Subs not used – Hamilton, Manzana, Robertson and McMaster.

Forres  Mechanics – Knight, Allan, Grant, G.Fraser, L.Fraser, McGovern [so 90], Knutsisvili [Cameron 76], Graham [b62], McPherson, Finlayson [Groat h/t][b69], Soane [b69][Baxter 73][b84]. Subs not used – Storrier, Paterson, Hutcheson and McLean.

Referee – Scott Millar                    Assistants – Alastair Mather and Colin Whyte

There were talking points aplenty in this Scottish Cup tie. Four goals including a hat-trick, two sending offs, a plethora of cautions and two disallowed goals are a summary of the goings on at Ochilview.

Stenhousemuir started the game at a high tempo and were causing problems in particular down the flanks. This was a promising start for the home side but Forres were managing to cut out the danger at the last moment until the 12^th minute when  veteran striker Colin McMenamin opened the scoring with a 20 yard effort that arrowed into the top corner of the net. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Mark Gilhaney picked out McMenamin’s run and the striker headed his and Stenhousemuir’s second goal of the game. It could have been three two minutes later when Alastair Roy was allowed to cut in from the left and his a powerful shot that was tipped over by Stuart Knight. After this intensive start there were always likely to be openings for Forres and Ross McPherson will have felt that he should have done better when he picked the ball up 22 yards out but dragged his shot wide. Craig McGovern will have felt likewise after he also shot wide after intercepting a Willis Furtado pass. McMenamin almost had his hat-trick in the 39^th minute but headed wide after Knight missed a cross. Stenhousemuir started the second half brightly and McMenamin headed over a Furtado cross.

 Forres had more of the play in the second period compared to the first and Graham was unlucky to see a header land on the roof of the net. Furtado then came close at the other end with a 35 yard drive. Roy then chipped Knight but got just too much elevation and his attempt also landed on the roof of the net. Fraser Kerr came close with a header that was deflected wide and David Marsh suffered a similar fate from the resultant corner.

Tempers rose after Alan Cook was caught whilst trying to clear his lines and three players were eventually cautioned. Roy then was denied by Knight once again as the game entered the final stages but still the third goal wouldn’t come until Cook picked out McMenamin in the 81^st minute and the veteran picked his spot to secure his hat trick.

To their credit Forres threw everything at Stenhousemuir in the last few minutes and they looked to have scored a minute later through a Baxter overhead kick but it was ruled off for an infringement. In the 85^th minute they were denied once again when the referee ruled out another effort for a foul on Colin McCabe that was in the soft category.

A minute later though they were awarded a penalty when McPherson was adjudged to have been fouled by Marsh who received his second caution and was sent off. Baxter converted from the spot. With the game in stoppage time McGovern was red carded for a late tackle on Jamie McCormack. Another fracas ensued as the game came to an ugly finish after a competitive cup tie that was hard on the pitch but fair off it.

All in all though Stenhousemuir deserved to go through and were rewarded with a tie at McDiarmid Park against St.Johnstone in the next round. They will have to do it without Marsh though as he will be suspended.

The early stages of the game were encouraging though and they at long last won their first home competitive game of the season.