Match Report

Stenhousemuir ran out winners in the KDM Evolution Trophy with a convincing 3-0 win over East Kilbride at Ochilview.

Ross Taylor’s early strike set the tone before second-half goals from Michael Anderson and substitute Ollie Whyte sealed the victory.

The result not only extended the Warriors’ unbeaten run to ten matches in all competitions but also maintained their flawless record in the trophy.

Gary Naysmith made eight changes to the line-up, with Yan Gromov, Oliver Simpson, Matthew Aitken, Finlay Gray, Zeke Cameron, Michael Anderson, Kelsey Ewen and Leyton Grant coming in for Darren Jamieson, Ross Meechan, Archie Graham, Euan O’Reilly, Kinlay Bilham, Dale Carrick, Oliver Whyte and Scott McGill.

The first chance of the game fell to East Kilbride when Reegan Mimnaugh’s free-kick was gathered comfortably by Yan Gromov.

Despite that early opportunity, Stenhousemuir took the lead after only four minutes. Ross Taylor latched onto the ball inside the box and struck low and hard into the bottom-right corner, with Joe Morrison’s touch not enough to keep it out.

Finlay Gray was next to threaten, but Joe Morrison stood firm, blocking with his legs.

Michael Anderson then robbed East Kilbride of possession and charged through on goal, only to be dispossessed himself just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Ross Taylor almost doubled his tally with a rifled free-kick, but Morrison was equal to it, smothering the effort.

Leyton Grant thought he had opened his account for the club when he thumped home from a corner, but referee Euan Anderson disallowed the goal.

Half-Time: Stenhousemuir 1-0 East Kilbride

Ollie Simpson produced a sensational moment of skill, making it look as if the ball was glued to his foot as he spun past two markers before threading a pass to Zeke Cameron, making his first full start for the club. Cameron delivered the ball into the East Kilbride box, but no one was able to connect.

Euan O’Reilly went close to continuing his goal-scoring streak, with his strike drifting agonisingly wide of the far post.

The winger was not to be denied his impact though, and in the 65th minute he slipped a perfect pass through to Michael Anderson, who calmly slotted home to give Stenhousemuir a two-goal cushion.

John Robertson tried to spark a response for East Kilbride, but his effort sailed well over the bar and out of the ground.

The Warriors sealed the points in the 73rd minute through substitute Ollie Whyte. His first attempt was saved by the legs of Joe Morrison, but he reacted quickly to bury the rebound and register his goal.

Stenhousemuir’s clean sheet was preserved late on thanks to an outstanding one-handed save from Yan Gromov, who denied a Trialist’s volley from the edge of the box.

The result extended Stenhousemuir’s unbeaten run to ten matches in all competitions and ensured their flawless record in the trophy remained intact – a tremendous achievement for Gary Naysmith’s side.

Full-Time: Stenhousemuir 3-0 East Kilbride

Stenhousemuir: Godik, Simpson, Buchanan (Graham 46’), Robson (McGill 62’), Aitken, Gray (Whyte 62’), Taylor (O’Reilly 62’), Cameron, Anderson (Carrick 79’), Ewen, Grant

Unused Subs: Jamieson, Meechan, Bilham

East Kilbride: Morrison, Ferguson, MacKenzie, Fagan, Balde, Elliott (Trialist 72’), Healy, Dobbie, Mimnaugh, Spence (Robertson 55’), Lyon

Unused Subs: Owens

PREVIEW

Stenhousemuir welcome East Kilbride to Ochilview Park on Tuesday evening for a 7:45pm kick-off in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

The Warriors head into the tie on the back of a strong run of form, most recently defeating Peterhead 3-1 at the weekend in William Hill League One.

Dale Carrick opened the scoring before the visitors equalised on the stroke of half-time, but in-form Euan O’Reilly netted twice in three minutes after the restart to continue his impressive scoring streak – five goals in his last four matches.

In the previous round of the competition, Gary Naysmith’s men produced a complete performance against Kilmarnock B, running out convincing 4-0 winners to extend their unbeaten run in the cup to three games.

Tuesday’s visitors East Kilbride are new to the SPFL this season after being crowned Lowland League champions and then defeating Bonnyrigg Rose in the play-off to secure their place in League Two.

At the weekend, East Kilbride recorded a 1-1 draw with Dumbarton in the William Hill  League Two. John Robertson converted a penalty just before half-time, but Scott Tomlinson levelled for the Sons midway through the second half.

EK’s most recent outing in the KDM Evolution Trophy came at K-Park, where they fell to a 4-2 defeat against Hamilton Academical.

The Kilby’s task was made harder when Rhys Breen was sent off after just 20 minutes, with Accies scoring twice in quick succession just before the break.

John Robertson pulled one back early in the second half, but Kevin O’Hara restored Hamilton’s two-goal cushion. Robertson struck again to give East Kilbride hope, only for Stuart McKinstry to seal the win for the visitors late on.

Both sides last met back in July 2017 in the Betfred Cup, when East Kilbride claimed victory courtesy of a Sean Winter double.

Speaking ahead of the tie, Warriors boss Gary Naysmith said: “We’re on a good run and want to keep that continuity. There will be personnel changes of course, but the lads should be itching to get on the pitch and that in itself should give us energy and make us difficult to play against.

“East Kilbride are a really good team, and it’ll be a difficult game, but if we can get another victory on Tuesday it puts us in a really strong position to try and finish as one of the top six seeds. So that’s what we’ll try and do.”