Champions, Stenhousemuir drew 1-1 with Elgin City at Ochilview with goals from Ross Taylor and a late equaliser by Robert Jones.
The champions returned to Ochilview where they took on Elgin City in the cinch league two. Gary Naysmith named 5 changes as some of the players started to feel the effects of the long season. Ben Stirling, Kyle Jacobs, James Berry, Ross Taylor and Jordan Kirkpatrick all came back into the side and replaced Edin Lynch, Mikey Anderson, Nat Wedderburn, Adam Brown and Matty Aitken.
The first chance of the match came just minutes into the match, Matty Yates met Ross Meechan’s long ball well, he attempted to chip McHale in the Elgin goal, but he held well.
Almost immediately after, Elgin had the ball in the back of the net, but it was flagged for offside after an attacker knocked it past Darren Jamieson.
The champions opened the scoring in the 13th minute, Ross Taylor picked the ball up on the edge of the box, let it run onto his weaker left foot and fired a strike past McHale.
There were shouts for a penalty to The Warriors for handball after an inviting cross in from Ross Taylor in the 25thminute. Moments later, another cross in was met by Euan O’Reilly but he couldn’t direct his header towards goal.
Elgin then rattled the crossbar on the half hour mark after a free kick by Russel Dingwall.
Elgin started the second half well having a couple of early chances after the interval, a corner was well cleared by The Warriors defence. Stenhousemuir responded well as just moments later, Kirkpatrick had an effort from long-range go over the bar.
Stenhousemuir then had a huge double chance on the hour mark. Matty Yates slipped in O’Reilly, whose effort was well saved, and it fell back to Matty Yates, but the Elgin defence produce last-ditch challenges to clear it over the bar and stop the ball finding the back of the net.
The Warriors went close again in the 70th minute. A free kick is floated to the back post where Edin Lynch is unmarked. He tried to place it beyond McHale, but it’s cleared off the line.
The match then became very even with neither side being able to create to many chances as the windy conditions continued to play their part at Ochilview.
Elgin continued to push late on and were rewarded for their efforts when they got an equaliser. Jamieson makes a great reaction save after a shot, but the Warriors defence struggled to clear, and Robert Jones was on hand to fire the ball into the net and level the match.
Late on, Elgin were reduced to ten men when Owen Cairns fouled Euan O’Reilly and was given a second yellow card.
The Warriors were unable to use the advantage and the match finished all square.
