Match Report

Stenhousemuir V Stirling Albion at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 3.1.15

SPFL Division One             Att 586

Stenhousemuir 1 [McMenamin 35] Stirling Albion 2 [Comrie 24, G.Smith 30]

The start of the new year is usually one of hope and joy but this match was played against a sombre background due to the untimely death of Kyle Doherty during the week. This meant a sad occasion for all including the Stirling assistant coach Martyn Corrigan who had gave Kyle his first team debut at Ochilview.

The Warriors made only one change to the team that had beaten league leaders Stranraer the previous week as Tom Walsh had been recalled by Rangers from his loan period and his spot in the starting eleven went to Lee Gallacher who had signed from Partick Thistle earlier that morning after been released by the Firhill side. This meant that Ross McMillan had to be content with a place on the bench after been suspended for the Stranraer game and therefore Colin McMenamin once again wore the captain’s armband.

Not surprisingly the game started slowly though Sean Dickson came very close to meeting a ball over the top of the Albion defence in only the second minute. Stirling were down to ten men at that stage as Lewis Small had the misfortune to suffer a reoccurrence of a shoulder injury in the first minute of the game. He was replaced by Lewis Coult shortly afterwards.

The Warriors did create an opportunity in the 13^th minute through a glancing header by Colin McMenamin from a Ciaran Summers cross that went just the wrong side of the post. Stirling came closer two minutes later when Greg Fleming had to dive at full stretch to make a one handed save from a Gordon Smith header.  Kris Faulds then was in action at both ends of the pitch firstly getting into good position to meet a Sean Dickson pass but a heavy touch took it away from the danger area then he came closer at the other end with an attempted clearance that bounced just past the post. From the resultant corner Stirling took the lead. The Warriors failed to close down a player on the edge of the box and when it was played into the danger area it was deliberately turned by another player into the net with Craig Comrie being credited as goalscorer.  Colin McMenamin then forced Greg Paterson into a save before the visitors doubled their lead on the half hour when Gordon Smith burst into the box making the most of hesitancy in the Stenhousemuir defence before tucking the ball into the net.

The Warriors did get a goal back five minutes later when a Faulds free kick wasn’t cleared properly and Bryan Hodge played the ball forwards, Colin McMenamin with hit back to goal managed to hook the ball over his shoulder and into the net.  The second have started positively with Alan Lithgow seeing a header come off the crossbar from close range but as the game progressed Stirling looked the more likely to add to their tally and they were denied on several occasions by Greg Fleming who got the sponsors man of the match award which indicates how the game went and although there were some chances it was not enough and Stirling were victorious for only the second time in the league this season.

 The Stenhousemuir supporters will not have forgotten the first time as it was also at Ochilview in a 5-4 victory for the Binos. This time though despite the disappointment it didn’t really seem to matter quite the same.

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Duncan, Meechan, Lithgow [b49], Summers, K.Millar, Hodge [Grehan 75], Faulds, McMenamin [b74], Gallacher [Eddington 61] and Dickson [Watt 88]. Subs not used –McMillan, Fotheringham, Sludden and Smith.

Stirling Albion – Paterson, McGeachie, Creaney, Beith, Wedderburn, C.Smith, Johnston, Comrie, Small [Coult 5], G.Smith [Hamilton 90] and Cunningham[b68] [McClune 79]. Subs not used – Robertson, Fulton, Magennis and Binnie.

Referee – Gavin Duncan                Assistants – Graeme Stewart and David Burns.