Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v St.Mirren at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 9.7.16

Pre-season friendly                        Att 319

Stenhousemuir 1 [Smith 13]  St.Mirren 3 [Clarkson 37,67 Sutton 65]

Stenhousemuir – Colin McCabe, Jamie McCormack [Trialist 66][CJ], Ciaran Summers, Ross Meechan, Fraser Kerr, Kieran Millar, Liam McCroary [Trialist 80][DH], Stephen Stirling, Colin McMenamin [Alan Cook 66], Jack Smith and Trialist [MS][Trialist 80][JS2]. Subs not used – Sean Robertson, Paul Nash and Trialist [JM]

St.Mirren –  Scott Gallacher, Jason Naismith, Andy Webster, Ben Gordon [Jack Baird 66], Gary Irvine [Jordan Stewart 80], David Clarkson, Rocco Quinn, John Sutton, Stevie Mallan, Calum Gallagher [[Nathan Flanagan 61] and Kyle Hutton [Lewis Morgan 53]. Subs not used – Lee Fawkes, Kyle McAllister, Lewis McLear and Jamie Langfield.

Referee – Alan Muir               Assistants – Mark McLean and Tony Kelly.

This was to be the sternest of tests for Stenhousemuir so far this season with Championship side St.Mirren fielding their strongest side for their only public outing on the pre-season fixtures. The Warriors in the main did well but ultimately the visitors were too strong. Stenhousemuir took the lead in the 13rh minute when ex-St.Mirren youth player Jack Smith took full advantage of a slight slip by Gary Irvine and he strode past him to shoot home. There were few scares for the Warriors until the equaliser in the 37^th minute when David Clarkson was quickest to react after a Ben Gordon shot was blocked. The visitors took the lead in the 65^th minute when Stenhousemuir gave the ball away cheaply and Clarkson set up John Sutton to tuck the ball home. Two minutes later an exquisite finish by Scotland International Clarkson finished the game and the scoring.

This was a worthwhile exercise and although a number of players looked heavy legged by the end the improvements in certain areas were evident. The latter stages also gave the manager a chance to run the eye over a few trialists.