Elgin City vs Stenhousemuir

The Warriors played out a 2-2 draw against Elgin at Borough Briggs with goals from Russel Dingwall and Brian Cameron for the home side and Nat Wedderburn and Euan O’Reilly the away side.

Stenhousemuir made the long trip north to face Elgin in the cinch league 2. Gary Naysmith named two changes to the side that drew with East Fife last Saturday, Gregor Buchanan and Ben Stirling came in for Nicky Jamieson and Ross Meechan. Elgin were unchanged from their victory away at The Spartans last weekend.

Elgin started the better side applying pressure as early as the first minute, Keith Bray was fouled on the edge of the box and Elgin had a free kick in a dangerous position, but Mark Gallacher dragged his free kick wide.

The pressure continued as in the third minute, Dingwall created space on the left and floated an effort to the back post however, no-one was there to meet it.

If the early onslaught of pressure wasn’t a wake-up call for the Warriors, then Elgin’s disallowed goal in the 14^th minute would have been. Wedderburn was caught in possession by Dayshonne Golding, who turned and struck the post with his shot. Bray then tapped in the rebound, but the flag was raised for offside.

But Stenhousemuir did react well to the disallowed goal as little as three minutes later, Wedderburn put the Warriors ahead with his first goal of the season. It was a pinpoint corner from Matty Yates and a perfect glancing header from Wedderburn put the Warriors 1-0 up.

Elgin responded well and applied pressure to the Stenhousemuir defence. They were awarded a penalty after Matty Yates was adjudged to have pushed an Elgin attacker. Dingwall stepped up and calmly sent Darren Jamieson the wrong way to bring the home side level.

Elgin continued dominate and got their reward for their relentless pressure in the 35^th minute when the ball feel to Cameron inside the box after a stramash and he was able to fire his shot into the back of the net to put the home side in front. 

Stenhousemuir’s best chance to equalise in the first half came just before the break. A mazy run from O’Reilly saw him be fouled right on the edge of the box. Matty Yates stepped up to take the free kick but put his effort just over.

The Warriors came out and started the second half well. They got an equaliser in the 56^th minute after pressure in the early stages in the second half. O’Reilly burst down the right and his finish went past Tom McHale and into the bottom left corner of the goal. 

The Warriors began to grow into the game more. 10 minutes after the goal was when the next chance came. Kyle Jacobs beat Cairns to the ball and played in O’Reilly, who won Stenhousemuir a corner. A period of possession followed, but the Warriors were unable to create a clear chance.

Subs from both sides disrupted the momentum of the match and the next big chance didn’t come until the 76^th minute. A quick break from Mitchell Taylor. He did well to cut it back to Golding who teed up Gallacher, but he shot wide of Darren Jamieson’s goal.

Stenhousemuir had a really good chance to take the lead in the dying stages of the match. A dangerous ball was played into the box by Adam Brown, this was followed by a goalmouth scramble with Aitken and Buchanan both having shots well blocked.

Both sides continued to push the illusive winner but neither side were able to find it and both sides had to settle for a point. 

Both sides will look to build on this point next week. Stenhousemuir are back at Ochilview next week after two games on the road, they host Clyde. Elgin are on their travels to the Balmoor Stadium where they take on Peterhead.

Report by Angus Blacklock

Photography by Bob Crombie

LINE-UPS

Elgin City | McHale, Cairns, Dolzanski, Draper [Ewan 28?], Booth, Dingwall [Jeffreys 83?], Gallagher, Cameron, Bray [MacLeman 69?], Golding [Jones 84?], Dangana [Taylor 69?]

Substitutes not used | Jamieson, Kelly

Goals | Dingwall [27? pen], Cameron 37?

Assists | 

Bookings | Gallagher

Stenhousemuir | D Jamieson, Stirling [Berry 58?], Lynch, Buchanan, Bilham, Wedderburn Kirkpatrick 87?], Jacobs, Anderson, Yates [Brown 74?], O’Reilly [Rodden 74?], Aitken

Substitutes not used | Lyle, Meechan

Goals | Wedderburn 17?, O’Reilly 56?

Assists | Yates 17?, 56?

Bookings | Buchanan, Anderson