Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Stenhousemuir v Stranraer at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 03.11.18
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 4612
Stenhousemuir 0 Stranraer 2 [Anderson 47, Crossan 90]

Stenhousemuir – Smith [b84], Donaldson, Neill, Ferry [Ross 89], McGuigan, O’Hara, Cook [so 73], Duthie [b53] [McMenamin 90][b90], Dickson, McBrearty and Paton [Vaughan 89]. Subs not used – Reid, Tena, McMinn and Halleran

Stranraer – Currie, McDonald [b53], Brownlie [b35], D.Smith, Hamill, Cummin, Higgins [b84], Turner, Anderson [Cameron], Donnelly [I.Smith] and Crossan. Subs not used – Avci, McGowan, Lamont, Ashmore and Diver.

Referee – Gavin Ross Assistants – Ralph Gordon and McCart

After the away victory at Airdrie the previous week hopes were that the Warriors would be able to carry that form into this game. Games against Stranraer in recent times though seem to have been a struggle and the Stair Park men had already won at Stranraer by a two goal margin.

There was one enforced change with Kieran Gibbons still awaiting removal of internal stitches in the ear and this meant that Harry Paton was restored to the starting eleven. The early stages of the game showed promise and Alan Cook exposed the visiting defence with a run and cross but a stretching Kevin O’Hara was unable to get the ball on target. Mark McGuigan had a better chance in the 9th minute following a swift attack but as he switched to his favoured foot David Smith was quick to react to nullify the threat. Max Currie then saved an O’Hara shot.

Gradually though Stranraer started to create their own chances and the best chance of the game fell to Grant Anderson but he dragged his shot wide in the 22nd minute from a good position. The ex-Warrior came even closer four minutes later when he was picked out at the near post and after easily beating his marker shot goal-wards but was denied by Graeme Smith who saved with his legs.

Stenhousemuir still had plenty of possession but once they got into the danger area they struggled to break though against a defence well marshalled by Jamie Hamill and as a consequence tended to over play the situation rather than have attempts at goal from distance.

Although the teams went into the interval on level terms it wasn’t long after the restart when Anderson eventually got the goal that his runs had deserved. He was able to steady himself and steered the ball past the keeper from inside the box after once again his run hadn’t been picked up.

Two minutes later Connor McBrearty just failed to get on the end of a Cook cross. The game had seen some robust play and when Conner Duthie and Andrew McDonald clashed once again both were cautioned by referee Gavin Ross.
Worse was to follow for Stenhousemuir in the 73rd minute when they were reduced to ten men after the referee sent off Alan Cook following a tackle on Grant Anderson that saw the Stranraer player unable to continue after being stretchered off the field. Cook had actually won the ball but the tackle did catch the player though it seems that the red card was for his reaction to the foul being given rather than the tackle itself.

Later on there was another double booking when Graeme Smith and Daniel Higgins had words with each other. Despite trying hard to get back into the game the home side were always vulnerable to counter attacks and in stoppage time Stranraer doubled their lead when Paul Crossan fired a shot home after he hit the ball off a defender and into the net. There was to be no way back for Stenhousemuir and the game ended with Colin McMenamin picking up a caution as the teams left the field as the referee took umbrage to comments that the striker had made.