Match Report

MATCH REPORTS
Stenhousemuir v Forfar Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 20.04.19
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 577
Stenhousemuir 0 Forfar Athletic 3 [Hilson 23, Eckersley 26, Baird 59 pen]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid, Donaldson, Neill [Cook 30][b69], Marsh [b59], Ferry, McGuigan, Munro [so 85], Dingwall [Breadner], McBrearty [Gibbons 76] and Hurst. Subs not used – McMinn, Duthie, Ross, and Halleran.

Forfar Athletic – McCallum, Meechan, Eckersley, Whyte, Travis, Reilly [Malone 83], Hilson [Moore 77], Bain, Baird, Easton [Aitken 83] and Spencer [b81]. Subs not used – Hoban, Irvine, Mackintosh and Coupe.

Referee – Gavin Ross Assistants – Ivan Stankovic and Bart Misiak.

After the victory at Airdrie the previous week the Warriors went into this game with an unchanged starting eleven. The scenario that played out however was a totally different one as Forfar ended up comfortable winners by a three goal margin. On the hottest day of the year to date Stenhousemuir started the game positively with Russell Dingwall being to the fore. It wasn’t too long however before the visitors started to impose themselves on proceedings and it took an save by Graeme Smith’s legs to deny the Loons in the 12th minute of the game. A cross-shot by Dingwall in the 20th minute just went wide and was just missed by Mark McGuigan but that was as good as it got for the home side.

Three minutes later Forfar took the lead when a swift passing move ended with John Baird picking out Dale Hilson who dispatched the ball into the net. This was followed quickly by a second goal when Thomas Reilly picked out Adam Eckersley who was at the edge of the box for a corner and the defender was given too much time and space to fire a shot into the net.

The best chance thereafter for Stenhousemuir to get back into the game was in the 33rd minute when Greg Hurst was picked out by a long ball and although he managed to get a shot away he will rue not hitting his effort quicker when there was a better opportunity to test Marc McCallum. Alan Cook did well with a burst of speed down the left flank and a cross that was just missed by McGuigan just after the start of the second half.

Any thoughts of a fightback were brought to a halt though when Forfar were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute after David Marsh was adjudged to have fouled Hilson. Ex-Warrior John Baird stepped up to drill the ball past Smith to put the Loons three up.

That was to be the end of the scoring thanks to a top class save from Smith to deny Lewis Moore in stoppage time. It was not to be the end of the tale of woe for Stenhousemuir though as ex-Loon Andy Munro vented his frustrations at the referee about decisions with five minutes left and was promptly dismissed from the field. This means that he serves a one game suspension.

This result means that Forfar have taken 12 points against Stenhousemuir this season which is a haul that secured their place in the promotion play-offs.