Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Peterhead at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 12.3.15

Ladbrokes SPFL League One             Att 369

Stenhousemuir 1 [Manzana-Martinez 81] Peterhead 4 [Stevenson 13, Sutherland 43, 53 pen, McIntosh 67]

After a torrid time on their travels the Warriors returned to Ochilview hoping to get something out of a game against high flying Peterhead. Stenhousemuir were missing Alan Cook through suspension but saw Colin McCabe return after his one game ban and Jon Robertson start after recent injuries have curtailed his performances. Peterhead went into the game on the back of a club record of sixteen league games without defeat though that had almost ended in the game prior to this equalising in stoppage time at Coatbridge. The last time they lost was at Ochilview in October and this allied to the fact that top scorer Rory McAllister was suspended gave a glimmer of hope for the Warriors faithful.

Peterhead though were determined to show that they were not a one man team and they ultimately won the day. The Blue Toon took the lead in the 13^th minute when Jamie Stevenson was picked out on the right and the unmarked player took full advantage to fire home with the Stenhousemuir players appeals for an offside decision going unanswered. Ross Meechan later cleared a Jamie Redman effort off the line before Stephen Stirling had a couple of chances at the other end within the space of a minute. The first effort brought out a fine one handed save by Graeme Smith but the second didn’t trouble the keeper as the shot was weak. The latter stages of the first half had seen the Warriors at long last get to grips with the game but they found themselves further behind when Shane Sutherland scored with a long range effort in the 43^rd minute.

Peterhead were gifted an opportunity to extend their lead in the 53th minute from the penalty spot after Leighton McIntosh was brought down by McCabe. Sutherland stepped up to convert. It was a clear penalty but the home side will have felt aggrieved that they had not also been awarded a penalty just before when Jason Scotland was fouled by Scott Ross. McIntosh scored the fourth with another long range effort in the 57^th minute that put the game beyond doubt and allayed any worries from the Peterhead faithful that a repeat of the remarkable comeback in October would be repeated.

Nevertheless to their credit the home side didn’t concede further goals but actually had their best period of the game after this. They didn’t have much luck though as was typified in the71st minute when a Mark Gilhaney shot beat the keeper but hit Ryan Strachan’s backside on the line and was cleared. Four minutes later Gilhaney picked out Lewis Small at the back post but from close range he managed to strike the bar when it looked as if he must score. A clever shot on the run by McIntosh showed that Peterhead were still dangerous but the pick of the goals came for Stenhousemuir in the 81^st minute when Carlos Manzana-Martinez picked the ball up in the centre circle and was allowed to advance to 25 yards out before he unleashed a shot into the net. Jamie McCormack then had an effort saved before Small dragged another effort wide when in a good position.

This was a fighting end to the game but although they were the better team in patches there is no doubting that it was the visitors who were the more clinical and it were the more confident throughout the game whilst the frailties in the Stenhousemuir side were highlighted once again.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack, Summers, Malcolm [Mazana-Martinez 58], Murray, Meechan, Stirling [Small 68], J.Robertson, McMenamin [b90], Scotland and Gilhaney.

Peterhead – Smith, Stevenson [McIntosh 28] ,Noble, Ross, Gilchrist, Strachan, Lawrence [Brown 55], Redman [b90], Dzierzawski, Sutherland and Riley [Rodgers 61]. Subs not used – Blockley, Ferries and Jarvie.

Referee – Colin Steven          Assistants – Ivan Stankovic and David Burns