3Match Report
Stranraer v Stenhousemuir at Stair Park, Stranraer on 25.01.11
Scottish Cup Fourth Round Replay Att 521
Stranraer 4 [One 19, 74, Malcolm 44, Murphy 49] Stenhousemuir 3 [Dalziel 17, D.Gallagher og 45 Clark pen 90]
Stenhousemuir crashed out of the Scottish Cup after a poor performance against Stranraer in this 4th round replay. The Warriors made one change from the previous meeting with youth player Michael Hunter deputising for the suspended Iain Thomson. Stranraer made three changes with Michael Moore replacing Armand One, Declan Gallagher returned to the side after his loan period from Celtic had been extended and Kevin Nicoll also coming in after his absence in the first game due to work commitments.
Moore was to last only 8 minutes however before being subbed after being injured by a rash Jordan Smith tackles moments earlier for which the Stenhousemuir captain was cautioned. His replacement One was to have a large bearing on the outcome of the game.
Stranraer had a great chance to take the lead in the 16th minute of the game after Chris McCluskey fumbled a free kick which fell to One but he had a virtual fresh air swipe when he should have scored.
The home side were punished for this almost immediately when the Warriors swiftly went up the other end of the field and Scott Dalziel turned and fired a shot past David Mitchell and into the end. Stranraer responded with an attack at the other end and McCluskey was called upon to save with his legs but once again the rebound fell to One and this time he made no mistake and brought the clubs level.
The game ebbed and flowed at this stage and the Warriors could have snatched the lead in the 21st minute when a Sean Dickson overlapping run and cross was headed just over by Dalziel who despite having his head bandaged following injury on Saturday was winning a number of aerial balls.
Williams went into referee David Somers book for an unorthodox challenge in the 35th minute and as the temperature rose on the pitch another rash tackle this time by Steven Noble on Dalziel saw the Stranraer man cautioned. Ross Clark was then booked for his reaction to the challenge as the game threatened to bubble over.
Stranraer took the lead in the 44th minute with a goal that was easily preventable. First of all Gary Thom gave away possession cheaply then McCluskey failed to clear a cross and a Stranraer player saw his effort strike the post, When Nicoll picked the ball up he tumbled in the box claiming for a penalty and as time seemed to stand still Craig Malcolm pounced to steer the ball into the far corner.
Stranraer were themselves to be in a generous mood though before the interval as Stenhousemuir drew level in time added on. A cross by Stevie Murray was not cleared properly by Grant Gallagher and went back across goal where it struck Declan Gallagher and went into the net.
The Warriors failed to take advantage of this lifeline however and they found themselves trailing once again in the 49th minute when Paul Murphy headed home a corner kick. As the game progressed the bulk of the play was at the wrong end for the Warriors as Stranraer began to push for a killer goal and Malcolm saw two efforts strike the frame of the goal. The Warriors fell further behind when One converted another corner kick in the 74th minute and Malcolm was denied by a superb one handed stop from McCluskey as Stranraer tried to go nap. With time ticking down the Warriors should have got back into the game when a Willie Lyle shot was pushed out by David Mitchell to Grant Plenderleith but the youngster fluffed his effort and the danger was averted.
On the stroke of full time Stenhousemuir were awarded a penalty after Scott Agnew tripped Lyle and Ross Clark converted the spot kick. The Warriors almost took the game into stoppage time when Hunter picked out Dalziel but the striker’s effort went just over and with it Stenhousemuir’s chances and it was Stranraer that advanced to the 5th round and a home tie against Motherwell.
Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Lyle, Dickson, Thom, Smith [b3], Hunter, Anderson [Quinn 83], Clark [b43], Williams [b35] [Plenderleith 67], Dalziel and Murray.
Subs not used – Motion, Scullion and Brown
