Match Report

Stranraer v Stenhousemuir at Stair Park, Stranraer  on 19.11.16

SPFL Ladbrokes League One        Att 323

Stranraer 3 [Bell 36, R.Thomson 69, Nuttall 82] Stenhousemuir 1 [Roy 45]

Stranraer – Belford, Robertson, Dick,, Barron [McKeown 76] ,  Bell, Turner [Agnew 83], McGuigan, R.Thomson, Gibson, Malcolm [C.Thomson 70] and Nuttall. Subs – Currie, Watt and Morena.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, Meechan, Summers [b65], Marsh [b78], Kerr [McCormack 19], Berry, Gilhaney [Manzana 74], Millar, Roy [b90], McMenamin [b51[Furtado 63]]and Cook. Subs not used – Robertson, Hamilton, McCormack, McCroary, Furtado, Mazana and Shaw.

Referee – Alan Newlands             Assistants – Jordan Stokoe and Tony Fullerton

After a week break the Warriors were on the long journey to Stranraer to play the team that was only one place above them in the league. Stranraer had won the last game between the clubs 5-0 but that had not been a true reflection of a game in which Stenhousemuir had been the better team in the first half but had conceded three goals. David Crawford had still not shaken off his injury so Colin McCabe regained the number one jersey.  The early stages saw the home side have the bulk of the play but lacked penetration and it took a while for the first clear cut chance. Stenhousemuir were forced into an substitution with Fraser Kerr picking up an ankle knock. Jamie McCormack for the second game in succession coming off the bench before the half way point. Gradually Stranraer were building up the pressure and Mark McGuigan did well to keep the ball in place before passing to Willie Gibson’s whose cross just needed a touch for a goal. Luckily for Stenhousenmuir there were no takers but their luck was to run out in the 36^th minute. A Gibson corner was touched on at the near post and Steven Bell crouched low to score from inside the six yard box.

Stenhousemuir in the main had been living on scraps but they did create a good opening four minutes later when Mark Gilhaney was picked out unmarked at the back post but he took too long and the chance disappeared.

With the first half in stoppage time for the Kerr substitution the Warriors equalised. David Barron was loose with a pass and it was picked up by Colin McMenamin who strode forward before picking out a run by Alastair Roy who beat the offside trap and coolly slotted the ball past Cameron Belford and into the net.

That goal coming at a vital time should have given the visitors a lift but they were unable to build on that in the second half. The second half continued in the same pattern as the first with Stranraer having the bulk of possession but struggling to make the most of it. On the hour mark Ryan Thomson created an opening with clever footwork and it took a tackle from behind by McMenamin to alleviate the danger. Kyle Turner then came close when he seized on a bouncing ball after a corner wasn’t properly cleared bur his powerful strike went over the bar. Eventually Stranraer doubled their lead when a cross from the right flank wasn’t intercepted and Ryan Thomson burst through the defence before dispatching the ball into the net.

Although Stenhousemuir came close with an Alan Cook volley the game was put beyond doubt when Joe Nuttall scored the third for Stranraer. A McCabe kick out was picked up by Frank McKeown who played the ball over David Marsh for Joe Nuttall and the on loan Aberdeen striker took full advantage to extend the lead.

Just before the end of the game Stenhousemuir came close to getting their second when a delicate chipped pass by McCormack was met by Carlos Manzana and his first time shot was saved at full stretch by Cameron Belford. Carlos was listed as a trialist the reason being that his player registration had not cleared after he re-signed earlier in the week upon his return from Spain. There was no requirement for international clearance though as the Warriors were his last club