Match Report

Stenhousemuir Stranraer at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 14.1.17

SPFL Ladbrokes League One              Att 392

Stenhousemuir 1 [Millar 68] Stranraer 0

After the disappointing result though not performance at Bayview the previous week the Warriors went into this bottom of the table clash looking for a change in fortunes. Fraser Kerr was declared fit so he went into the middle of the defence and Ross Meechan moved to right back. Stranraer had three players playing their first games for the club. Morgyn Neill was on loan from Livingston, Craig Pettigrew returned to the club after his release from Dumbarton and Jack Whittaker was signed on a development loan from Kilmarnock.

The previous games have seen Stranraer win both games and were looking to go further ahead at the bottom. Stenhousemuir knew that if they won they would move off the bottom so there was a lot to play for.

The home side dominated the early proceedings and look to have taken the lead when Colin McMenamin headed home in the fourth minute of the game. The ‘goal’ though was disallowed for what must have been a marginal offside. Shortly after this an Alan Cook corner was headed across goal by Kerr to David Marsh who from close range hit the ball into the ground and over the bar. A minute later in a counter attack Colin McMenamin was brought down on the edge of the box but the referee played advantage and Willis Furtado’s powerful strike was saved by Cameron Belford.  Stenhousemuir continued to dominate procedures and Oliver Shaw had a 20 yard effort saved before the keeper denied Kerr to tip his header over the bar. McMenamin went close again with a well- timed run to meet a free kick but his strike went just wide.

It took Stranraer until they had their first effort at goal but Kyle Turner failed to hit the target. Stranraer came closer to scoring at the other end when Morgyn Neill sliced a clearance goalwards that Belford did well to save. Another golden chance fell to Shaw in the 40^th minute when a Kerr header was only partly cleared and fell to the youngster but he shot wide.

Stranraer were clearly missing the creativity of Willie Gibson and it was in the last minute of the half before they had their second attempt though Craig Malcolm’s shot went over the terracing roof.

The feeling at half time was that Stenhousemuir could come to regret their missed chances as the game progressed. They started the second period well though and Alan Cook fired over a minute after the resumption.

The game was a tighter affair though and the chances were fewer than before. Nevertheless the Warriors kept going and were rewarded for their endeavours when they eventually made the deadlock in the 68^th minute. A Cook cross was chested down by McMenamin into space for Kieran Millar who took a touch to control the ball and with his second to dispatch the ball into the net. This was a just reward for Millar who had been outstanding throughout the game in both a defensive and attacking situation.

Although Stranraer made changes to get back into the game there were few scares for Stenhousemuir though with only a one goal lead there were anxious thoughts about them sneaking an equaliser before the final whistle blew. In the end though they failed to hit the target in the 90 plus minutes as the home side deservedly took all three points.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, Meechan. Summers, Marsh, Kerr, Berry, Furtado, Millar, McMenamin, Shaw [McCormack 90] and Cook [b77]. Subs not used – McCroary, Manzana, Crawford, Smith, Hamilton and McMaster.

Stranraer – Belford, S.Robertson, Dick, Barron, Neill, Wilson, Turner [R.Thomson 63], Nuttall [McGuigan 63], Pettigrew [Whittaker 68], Malcolm and Agnew. Subs not used – Currie, Maley and Morena.

Referee – Steven Reid                       Assistants – Frank Connor and Steven Strang