Stephen Swift kept the same side for the 4th consecutive match.
Conor Brennan retains the number 1 jersey. Callum Yeats, Dan Higgins, Sean Crighton, Nicky Jamieson and Mikey Miller make u the back 5 with Ross Forbes and Nat Wedderburn in Midfield. Matty Yates and Will Sewell continue to lead the line with Adam Brown supporting in behind.
The first chance of the match came from the visitors on 5 minutes. Ross Forbes picked up the ball in midfield and he laid it off to Matty Yates with the young striker driving just wide of goal.
Just a few moments later and The Warriors had another good chance. Callum Yeats made the touchline and crossed back to Will Sewell who had a neat back heel to set up Matty Yates with the defender closing down in good time. The ball dropped to Forbes on the edge of the box and his shot was just clipped wide.
Ross Forbes and Callum Yeats both had long drives from outside the box in the first 10 minutes, with neither causing any issue for home defence.
Into the 13th minute and The Warriors force the first corner of the match. Nat Wedderburn’s interception fell to Matty Yates who forced a good save by the keeper at his near post. Matty Yates took the resultant corner, which drifted passed everyone.
The home side made their first promising attack of the match on 20 minutes, but Conor Brennan easily had the ball covered at his near course. Perhaps the wrong decision in the build up there from the home side, but and indication that The Warriors need to start taking their chances.
An another good chance for The Fifers as The Warriors switched off from a free kick allowing for a clean sight on goal, but the shot was well over.
More pressure for the home side as they start to find their foot in the game, forcing their first corner on 24 minutes which is well cleared by Crighton.
Callum Yeats picked up his second yellow card of the campaign on 25 minutes for a cynical foul inside the East Fife half.
SUBSTITUTION: Dan Higgins made a run forward and was fouled as he drove forward. A resultant hamstring injury forces him off the park to be replaced by Adam Corbett in the 30th minute.
Almost an immediate impact from Corbett who smashed a shot goal bound. A deflection by the defender and a world class save has kept the score at 0-0.
Matty Yates almost put Stenhousemuir in the lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box which was well saved.
Just moments later and Nicky Jamieson done well to block a well worked corner.
GOAL: Against the run of play, the hosts take the lead as Jack Healy Found the top corner from outside the box. EAST FIFE 1-0 STENHOUSEMUIR [Jack Healy 39 minutes]
HALF TIME: EAST FIFE 1-0 STENHOUSEMUIR
SUBSTITUTION: Double change at the break as Euan O’Reilly and Tam Orr come on to replace Callum Yeats and Will Sewell with Swifty reverting to a back 4 with Corbett at left back.
First good chance of the half falls to Tam Orr who sits the ball into the back of the net following a nice through ball by Matty Yates, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
Some good chances for the home side as they start to easily break open the Stenhousemuir defence.
The Warriors have some good play of their as Tam Orr breaks towards the goal line, only to see his cross blocked for a corner, which is eventually cleared.
Once again, The Warriors find the back of the net, but the referee blows for offside.
The Warriors are chapping the door as Euan O’Reilly drills the ball across goal, but nobody is able to connect.
GOAL: The Warriors finally make the breakthrough as Matty Yates found space on the right and his drilled cross was met in the middle by Euan O’Reilly with his 4th goal of the season. EAST FIFE 1-1 STENHOUSEMUIR [Euan O’Reilly 64 minutes]
Euan is starting to find the pace of the game as the home defence struggle with the winger.
Cynical foul by Brown on 73 minutes sees him enter the referee’s book.
SUBSTITUTION: Ross Forbes’ evening is over has he’s replaced by Niyah Joseph as Swifty moves more attacking in an attempt to take all 3 points back down the road.
Into the final 10 minutes and East Fife are starting to find their way back into the game and are pushing The Warriors back. Both teams pushing for the winner.
RED CARD: A challenge by Kieran Millar on Brown was deemed dangerous by the referee and the defender sees a straight red card in what looks like a harsh decision.
GOAL: Euan O’Reilly drives forward again and his shot is deflected into the back of the net by a defender. EAST FIFE 1-2 STENHOUSEMUIR [Euan O’Reilly 83 minutes]
Almost a third for Stenhousemuir as Tam Orr is through on goal by the keeper makes a good save.
Stenhousemuir managed to see out the remaining minutes and hold on for a well deserved victory that moves them up to 2nd in the table and 8 points behind leaders Dumbarton.
FULL TIME: EAST FIFE 1-2 STENHOUSEMUIRÂ
