Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Annan Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 21.11.20

SPFL League Two

Stenhousemuir 1 [McGuigan 55] Annan Athletic 2 [Wright 45,90]

Stenhousemuir – Martin, Hodge, Muir, Munro, Yeats, Tapping, Spence [b77], Blair, Graham [Grigor 78], McGuigan and Blair.

Subs not used – Erskine, McQueen, Watters, Halleran, Shiels, Fairley and Brown

Annan Athletic – Mitchell, Hunter, Clark, Splaine, Douglas, Swinglehurst, Fleming, Docherty [b90], Wright, Smith [Anderson 85] and Moxon [b52].

Subs not used – Pettigrew, Lowdon, Currie, Emmerson, Love and Murphy

Referee – Lloyd Wilson           Assistants – Gordon Crawford and Lee Robertson

After two defeats in the Betfred Cup albeit to teams from higher divisions it was back to league business for this game against Annan Athletic. Jonathan Tiffoney and Creag Little were still missing due to covid restrictions. Andy Munro was able to return though after suspension and Tommy Muir continued in his defensive duties against his old club.

Stenhousemuir started well using both wings and although they forced Annan to concede a number of corners the visitors back line wasn’t breached with the defence well marshalled by Steven Swinglehurst.

The closest that the Warriors came to opening the proceedings was in the 15^th minute when Callum Tapping picked out Mark McGuigan who had escaped his marker. The pass however took a slight deflection and the striker was leaning back when he connected with the inevitable conclusion of the ball flying over the bar.

Annan had been hitting on the counter attack and they were denied by good defending by Muir to intercept an Owen Moxon cross after the midfielder had intercepted a Tapping pass and tried to pick out Aiden Smith in the middle.

Just as the half would end goalless slack defending at an Annan set play ended with Max Wright to hook the ball home from close range with virtually the last play of the half. Immediately after the restart Annan tried to inflict more punishment and they almost extended their lead when Wright and Smith combined with the former just failing to get on the end of a pass when he would have had a clear sight at goal. Seconds later a Kyle Fleming strike was beaten out by Paddy Martin.

After weathering the storm the Warriors equalised in the 55^th minute when a driven cross by Botti Biabi was met by McGuigan who swept the ball past Alex Mitchell. McGuigan was to have a penalty claim turned down in the 75^th minute before Moxon flashed a shot just wide seconds later.

As the game entered the final phase Muir was pushed up to his more familiar role and it almost paid dividends in the 84^th minute but his header landed on the roof of the net. Stenhousemuir looked as if they would take the lead in the 87^th minute when Mitchell saved from McGuigan and somehow the ball didn’t cross the line in the ensuing scramble.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring though as the home side were hit with a sucker punch in the last minute when Wright collected a long ball and rolled Josh Grigor and stroked the ball home to put an end to Stenhousemuir’s unbeaten league run. It was a disappointing end to the game and shows that you need to fully concentrate until the final whistle in every game.