Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Annan Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 7.12.19

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 422

Stenhousemuir 1 [Hopkirk 24] Annan Athletic 2 [Douglas 30, Wilkie 90]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Armstrong, Dykes [b44][McGuigan 82], Hopkirk, Cook [b88], McLaughlin, McBride, Blair, A.Munro [53], Tiffoney and Biabi. Subs not used – Terry [t], O’Neill, Anderson, Potter and Watters.

Annan Athletic – Smith, Douglas, Ballantyne, Bradley, Joseph [b84], Swinglehurst, Holt [Barr 61], Wilkie, Muir [Nade 71], B.Watson [McLear 89] and Flanagan. Subs not used – Avci, Sonkur, Currie and Griffiths.

Referee – Graham Grainger               Assistants – Frank Connor and Steven McKay

With David Marsh missing out through the head injury picked up against Elgin City Connor McBride who had replaced him in that game was given a start with the formation being the same after Marsh’s injury on the Tuesday night. The home side were hoping to build on the momentum of picking up a last minute equaliser in that game.

It was not to be though as it was Annan who were the recipients of a vital late goal in this game.

Annan extended their unbeaten run against the Warriors to eight games after securing all three points in time added on when Kyle Wilkie scoring the winning goal. That goal set off celebrations that saw two players booked for entering the field of play with the players believed to be Broque Watson and Tommy Muir though the latter was wearing a sub jacket and thus wasn’t identified clearly by any media. There were stories that they actually entered the field of play before the ball crossed the line and thus the goal should have been chalked off. If that had happened there would have been a riot and would also have been unfair to the scorer who had taken his chance well.

There was no indication that there would be this sort of drama in the opening exchanges of the game. Annan had beaten the league leaders Cove Rangers 6-1 at Galabank the previous week but they found Stenhousemuir a more difficult proposition. The Warriors opened the scoring in the 24^th minute through a perfectly placed header by David Hopkirk from an Alan Cook corner.  Just after this Botti Biabi had an effort saved by ex-Warrior Chris Smith. His counterpart Graeme Smith had to be sharp to block a Niyah Joseph shot. He was beaten though from the resultant corner when Matty Douglas headed home though Smith will feel that he should have saved the attempt.

The home side had the better of the exchanges as the game progressed but the closest that they came to breaking the deadlock was a Dylan Dykes shot that took a slight deflection to go just past the post. Andy Munro also came close in the 58^th minute when a shot that was well blocked by an Annan defender.

The introduction of Christian Nade gave the Stenhousemuir defence a different time of problem from Tommy Muir who had scored a hat-trick in the Cove game and in the latter stages the visitors looked more potent. They were helped though when the home side stepped out too late and Wilkie lobbed Graeme Smith for the winner. The assist for the goal came aptly with a back header from Steven Swinglehurst who was playing his 200^th league games for the Galabankies.

This was a sore defeat as the Warriors probably should have won the game but came away with nothing for their efforts