Match Report

Stranraer v Stenhousemuir at Stair Park, Stranraer on 19.3.16

Ladbrokes SPFL Division One                       Att 446

Stranraer 3 [McGuigan 4, 37, Robertson 15 ]Stenhousemuir 1 [Scotland 61 pen]

With Stenhousemuiir missing several players through illness, injury and suspension it was a struggle to put a strong team on the field for this encounter at Stair Park. Coming into the team for a rare start was Liam McCroary who was one of the better players for the Warriors on the day.

That however doesn’t say too much though as for much of the game it was a stroll in the sun for Stranraer who looked comfortable for most of the game whilst the lack of confidence in the Stenhousemuir ranks was obvious to see.

The Blues took the lead in only the fourth minute of the game when a Willie Gibson shot was blocked but spun out to the unmarked Mark McGuigan who fired home. The home side always looked the more likely team in the opening stages and they extended their lead in the 15^th minute. A Gibson corner wasn’t properly cleared and although McGuigan saw his effort blocked the ball fell to Scott Robertson who rifled home from the edge of the box.

Stenhousemuir were really struggling to create any openings whilst at the other end Stranraer looked a more potent threat but the closest that they came was through a Paul Cairney effort that was comfortably saved.

In the 37^th minute the Stranraer pressure eventually told as the Warriors once again gave the ball away cheaply and when the ball was eventually played to McGuigan he passed the ball into the net. It took until the 37^th minute before the visitors had a shot that wasn’t blocked when Alan Cook shot well wide.

After an poor first half the second was better from a Stenhousemuir point of view but was still far from perfect. Just before the hour there was altercation between Colin McMenamin and Cameron Belford but after stern words by the referee no cards were produced. A minute later the keeper brought off a fine save to deny Jamie McCormack after McCroary headed a Mark Gilhaney corner into the danger area. However the ball was pounced upon by Gilhaney and as he ran across goal he was tripped by Craig Pettigrew and a penalty was duly awarded. Jason Scotland stepped up to convert the spot kick. A minute later McMenamin shot well past the post after McCroary had won the ball in midfield. In the 77^th minute a superb drive by Carlos Manzana-Martinez was tipped over the bar by Belford at full stretch..

This was the closest that Stenhousemuir came to reducing the leeway before the end of the game and Stranraer should have had the final say when Craig Malcolm blasted over from close range in the final minute. However the home side will be happy with the 3-1 win.

Stranraer –Belford [b61], Robertson, Pettigrew, Bell, Dick, Cairney [McCloskey 86], Stirling, Turner [Malcolm 73], Thomson, Gibson[b47][Kemp 89] and McGuigan. Subs not used – Currie, Aitken, Sch midt and Rumsby.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack, Summers, Meechan, Murray [b34], McCroary, Mazana-Martinez [Malcolm 87], Gilhaney, McMenamin, Scotland [b33][Small 61] and Cook [Marenghi 72]. Subs not used – Barclay, Nash and Allan

Referee – Nick Walsh         Assistants – Willie Ferguson and Stephen Graham