Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Stenhousemuir v Airdieonians at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 26.01.19
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 794
Stenhousemuir 1 [Halleran 73] Airdrieonians 0

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid, Donaldson [b61], Neill [Halleran 64], Ferry, McGuigan, Duthie [Ross 67], Dickson, Munro, Dingwall and McBrearty. Subs not used – Tena, Gibbons, Paterson, Cook and McMinn.

Airdrieonians – Hutton [b56], O’Neil, MacDonald, Creighton, Millar [Duffy 76], Gallacher, Stewart, Edwards [Conroy 76], McIntosh, Glass and Carrick [b64][Wilkie 67]. Subs not used – Cairns, Robertson, Page and McKenzie.

Referee – Steven Reid Assistants – Alistair Mather and George King.

The first match after the draw against Aberdeen was always going to be a test of character as it would have been easy to be subconsciously focused on the forthcoming replay. The league though in the scheme of things is more important and to their credit the players brought off a hard working performance that ultimately brought the three points to Ochilview.

This was the first home win in the league since the start of October and indeed the first shut out since they met Airdrie at the Excelsior 10 games ago. The Warriors were without Alan Cook who had suffered an eye injury at Aberdeen and although he was on the bench there was a very low expectation that he would participate in the game.

Andy Munro was making his home debut and he was alert to deny Dale Carrick a scoring opportunity after a strong run by Declan Glass who was making his Airdrie league debut. Airdrie came closest to opening the scoring in the early exchanges with a Leighton McIntosh strike going just wide. At the other end Connor Duthie hit a powerful strike just wide but it took until the 37th minute before either keeper was called into action when David Hutton saved from Mark McGuigan. In the last minute of the half McGuigan had a better chance but the ball fell to his weaker foot and he volleyed wide of the target.

There was a scare for the home side in the 50th minute when a free kick by Kieran MacDonald spun up and hit Graeme Smith on the chest but Ruaridh Donaldson was quick to clear the danger. The early stages of the second half saw Airdrie as a more threatening force with Glass being the catalyst. One of his runs was blocked by Morgyn Neill who shortly afterwards had to leave the pitch through injury despite attempts to carry on. This meant a shuffling of the pack with Thomas Halleran taking a midfield berth with Connor McBrearty going back into defence.

Before the team had settled Airdrie had their best chance of the game when another Glass run ended with a shot being pushed out to Dale Carrick but with the goal wide open he missed the target.

In the 70th minute Stenhousemuir almost took the lead but were denied by a wonder save from David Hutton who saved a McGuigan volley one handed from a Donaldson cross. That could have been the key moment in the game and certainly the save was worthy of a game of a higher stature.

Three minutes later though the keeper was beaten and it was a goal of the highest class that beat him. Halleran stepped up and struck a free-kick from the edge of the ‘d’ into the net. The shot was always going away from the keeper and will be one of the best goals seen at Ochilview this season. This was the youngsters first senior goal and what a way to score.

The goal secured all three points for the Warriors and although there were a few nervy moments towards the end they held out for a vital win.