Alloa Athletic v Stenhousemuir FC

Match Report

Alloa Athletic v Stenhousemuir at Recreation Park, Alloa on 18.8.14

Stirlingshire Cup Semi-final

Alloa Athletic 1 [Carrick 30] Stenhousemuir 3 [Reid 43, Lawson 58, R.Millar 90]

Stenhousemuir progressed to the final of the Stirlingshire Cup with a 3-1 victory over Alloa Athletic at the Recs on Monday night. The Warriors fielded a more experienced team than their counterparts as although most qualified for the under 20 development squad only James Redpath of the starting line up had not been in a first team squad this season. .  Alloa in the meantime had their main focus on the local derby against Stirling Albion in the Petrofac Training Cup the following evening and as a consequence fielded a younger squad.

The team selection was influenced by the fact that Monday is a training night for the first team squad and as a consequence those available for selection travelled to Alloa, whilst the younger players of the development squad had a bounce game lined up for the Tuesday at Bathgate against the local junior side.

It was the home side though that created the better openings despite Stenhousemuir having most of the play and Dean Shaw made a fine save from Eddie Ferns early on and then was called upon to save from Scott Hynd who had created an opening with a burst of pace.

The Warriors best chance came in the 28^th minute when a Josh Watt effort struck the post before hitting the keeper Mikey Couser on the back of the head but didn’t have the momentum to cross the line.

Shaw was helpless though when Alloa took the lead in the 30^th minute.  Stewart Greacen who was the senior player on the park at the start of the game had a fresh air swipe at a cross ball and Paul Carrick had time to place the ball into the net.

Stenhousemuir did eventually draw level just before the break when an overlapping run by Kris Faulds saw the midfielder pick out Jamie Reid who fired home from 12 yards. This was just reward for a decent first half performance when the team passed the ball around with purpose with everyone getting involved.

The Warriors  took the lead in the 58th minute when Alan Lawson scored with a finely placed header from a Josh Watt corner. They should have added to that lead on the hour when they surged forward after an Alloa attack broke down but despite having a numerical supremacy they failed to take advantage as Ryan Millar fired wide of the target. Another  quick interchange of passes sliced the Alloa defence open two minutes later but this time Paul-Jon Sludden hit the final shot just past the post.

Although Stenhousemuir had other chances before the end it was the 90^th minute before they put the result beyond doubt when Ryan Millar hit a screamer into the net giving the Alloa keeper no chance of stopping. Although that was almost the last kick of the ball the visitors did have another opportunity to score in the remaining seconds when Colin McMenamin headed over the bar from close range.

All in all it was a decent performance albeit against an inexperienced Alloa side and there were a number of positives to take from what could have been a potential banana skin. It will be interesting to see how the game goes when the younger squad takes on Alloa in the Youth Cup on Sunday.

Although Stenhousemuir are through to the final it could be a while until it is played as Falkirk and Dumbarton still have their first round tie to play before the winners of that match meet East Stirlingshire in the semi-finals. According to the association rules both of these games should have already been played.

Alloa Athletic – Couser, Smith, Wilson, McLelland, Coleman, Hoggan, Hynd, Moore, Ferns [Thomson h/t], Welsh and Carrick [Anderson 76]. Subs not used – Stubberfield. Hutchison and McKechnie.

Stenhousemuir – Shaw, Duncan, Greacen, Lawson, Redpath, Faulds, Reid [Doherty 55], Fotheringham , R.Millar, Sludden [K.Millar 83] and Watt [McMenamin 71]. Subs not used – Lithgow, Meechan, Hodge and Fleming

Referee – Gavin Duncan                               Assistants – Scott Love and Mark McHendry