Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Stranraer at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 1.2.14

SPFL Division One            Att 466

Stenhousemuir 1 [Malone 90] Stranraer 1 [A.Stirling 88]

With no new manager in place yet Brown Ferguson, David Rowson and captain Ross McMillan took the team for this game against in form Stranraer. The Blues have exceeded the expectations of many this season and would have been favourites going into this game. Stenhousemuir went into this game with one point this year and their last home win back in November so they were hoping to break this sequence.

Ross McMillan returned to central defence so David Rowson moved back to the midfield and as a consequence Kris Faulds dropped to the bench. Stranraer created the first chance in the third minute when David McKenna dragged a long range effort wide of the target but the striker will have felt that he should have done better as he had time to set up his shot.

Stranraer showed their defensive qualities to snuff out a couple of half chances for the Warriors first of all blocking an Eddie Malone in the 6^th minute and then Mark Docherty reacting quickly to block a Sean Lynch strike after a Bryan Hodge strike was deflected into the Warriors path.

There was another chance created in the 18^th move when Lynch was played through the middle after a decent passage of play but the Stenhousemuir player was always stretching to get on the end of the final ball and as a consequence shot well wide of the target.

Stenhousemuir had most of the possession but lacked the cutting edge and when they gave the ball away cheaply whilst attacking they almost paid the price as they could not cope with the counter attack that ended with Chris Smith making a decent save from Grehan in the 27^th minute. The visitors came even closer in the 43^rd minute when the Warriors struggled to clear from a corner and Frank McKeown had an effort cleared off the line by Sean Dickson. There was still time at the other end for a chance for Stenhousemuir when Bryan Hodge was teed up but his shot from outside the box failed to hit the target.

Stranraer had fewer chances to make their mark but they were more threatening in their play and McKenna saw an effort cleared off the line in the 52^nd minute and he must have felt it was not his day when he rattled the rebound off the bar.

There were a couple of half chances or better at the other end in a four minute spell up to the hour mark when Lynch picked out Rowson but he could not gather the ball from under his feet and the ball was scrambled clear, and this was followed by a throughball to Darren Smith from a Sean Higgins lay off but Smith ran the ball out of play. A superb run by Sean Dickson set up another opening in the 61^st minute and he picked out Higgins who once again set up Smith but although this shot was on target David Mitchell made a fine save for Stranraer.

In the 87^th minute Ross McNeil somehow carved out an opening despite being heavily marked but he was unfortunate to see his prodded shot smothered by Mitchell.

That looked to be a significant save for Stranraer when it looked as if they had snatched all three points in the 88^th minute when they scored through a fine strike by ex-Warrior Andy Stirling from 20 yards. However to their credit the Warriors didn’t let their heads go down too much and the game came down to a do or die corner kick in the third minute of added time after Stranraer had lost possession at the halfway line. Chris Smith was allowed to advance into the opposition box for the corner but his services were not required as when the corner was swung in Eddie Malone managed to get a touch and despite the efforts of Mitchell who got a hand to the ball it dropped just over the line to give the Warriors what could prove to be a vital point at the end of the season.

Stenhousemuir – C.Smith, Devlin, Malone, McMillan, Greacen, Lynch [McNeil 70], Rowson, Higgins, D.Smith [Douglas 86] and Dickson. Subs not used – Faulds, Thomson, Shaw and Summers.

Stranraer – Mitchell, Robertson, Docherty, Rumsby, McKeown, S.Stirling [Bell 78], McKenna [Winter 65][b74], Gallagher, Grehan, Longworth [Forde 81] and A.Stirling. Subs not used – McGregor, Kinnaird, Borris and Fahey.

Referee – Kevin Graham              Assistants – Michael Banks and Colin Pensom