|
After what has seemed at times a long and arduous season it came to a close on a
high and with hope for the future with this resounding victory at Boroughbriggs.
Marty Stewart Makes His Debut
Several changes were made to the side that beat Forfar the previous week with
Stevie Desmond, Gary Thom and Scott Dalziel all coming into the starting eleven
and there was a place on the bench for the first time of Marty Stewart from the
Under 19s who later in the game made his Warriors debut.
Love Gets His And The Warriors' First!
The game started brightly for Stenhousemuir who took the lead in the 6th minute
of the game when a through ball by Gary Thom to Robert Love saw the striker get
past his marker despite being pushed and he dispatched the ball past Ally
Ridgers from 16 yards out.
Ally brown In Great Form!
Elgin continued to play a high defensive line and they were almost caught again
in the 13th minute when the Dalziel, Love partnership exposed the defensive
frailties once again and Love looked as if he would get his second goal as he
bore down on goal but a last ditch tackle by Steven McKay cleared the danger.
The home side were struggling to get into the game but they almost equalised
when a Jason Crooks effort went just wide in the 16th minute.
Fergie Is Congratulated After His Stunner!
The Warriors suffered a blow when the 21st minute when Graham Gibson had to be
carried off after a late and rash tackle by David Niven that saw the Elgin
player lucky to be only cautioned and was the only sour note for Stenhousemuir
in the day’s proceedings. This meant the introduction of Stevie Ferguson to the
game and he graced it with a spectacular goal with his first touch of the ball
when he scored from fully 50 yards for one of the goals of the season.
Phil Mitchell Also Made His Debut :-)
It should have been 3-0 on the half hour but Craig Menzies blasted over from 10
yards out after a defender had inadvertently played the ball into his path. This
looked as if it could be a crucial miss when Jason Crooks reduced the lead when
he dispatched the ball past Ally Brown after 35 minutes given the history of
past encounters between the clubs but the lead was restored before half time
when Love scored his second of the game when he volleyed the ball past Ridgers
from a Stevie Desmond cross.
Bucket Pops In The Fourth!
The second half saw Stenhousemuir still on the attack and they got their fourth
goal in the 50th minute when Paul Tyrrell scored with a fine effort after being
set up on the edge of the box by Love and he almost got his second two minutes
later with a flicked effort from a Desmond cross.
The Hat Trick!
Elgin came close through Mark Nicolson on the hour but Brown was able to tip the
effort over. Any thoughts of a comeback ended in the 65th minute when Love got
his hat-trick when he scored from close range after being picked out by Tyrrell
and in achieving this at 19 must be one of the youngest Warriors players to be
able to claim the match ball at the end of the game
Desmond in Action
This was to be the last of the goals for the day though Elgin hit the woodwork
in the closing stages though a McKay effort but the day belonged to the Warriors
who gave one of their best performances of the season at a venue where wins have
been few and far between over the years.
Happy Scenes At The End
At the end of the game the players went across to the large band of supporters
that had made the long trip north and subsequently handed over their shirts to
them in an act of appreciation that for many supporters was the highlight of the
season
Elgin City – Ridgers, Nicolson [b74], Mckay, Niven [b21], Kaczan [Ross h/t],
Hinds [b52], Sutherland [Cameron 79], Campbell [b90], Crooks [Gilbert 71],
O’Donoghue and Frizzell.
Subs not used – Archibald and Bowden
Stenhousemuir – Brown, Lyle, McEwan, Thom [b19], Gilbride [b64], Tyrrell,
Desmond [Stewart 76], Gibson [Ferguson 23], Dalziel, Menzies and Love.
Subs not used – Jordan Smith, Connon and Hillcoat
Referee – Craig Charleston
Assistants – Billy Baxter and Jason Hasson
|
