Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir FC

Match Report

Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir at Station Par, Forfar on 11.10.2014

SPFL Division One Att 489

Forfar3 [Hilson 3, Swankie 50, Fotheringham 77] Stenhousemuir 0

The form guide going into this game suggested a comfortable win for Forfar as the home side had won every home game so far whilst the Warriors had not only lost their games but hadn’t troubled the scorers either having failed to register a league goal on their travels.

On this occasion it proved to be a valid forecast. Stenhousemuir made two changes from the starting eleven from the draw with Stranraer with Stewart Greacen struggling through injury being replaced by Alan Lithgow.

Martin Grehan wasn’t fully fit after his back problem and although he came on as a substitute he wasn’t up to a full ninety minutes so Colin McMenamin who scored twice last week started.

The Loons lived up to expectations and reclaimed their place at the top of the league with a comparatively comfortable victory after taking the lead in the third minute of the game. Stenhousemuir were in some ways the architects of their own downfall as was highlighted by the first strike.

Gavin Swankie easily brushed off a challenge by Ross Meechan before entering the box and cutting the ball into Dale Hilson who swivelled before tucking the ball into the far corner of the net.

There were glimmers of hope after that for a while as Stenhousemuir tried to get back on level terms especially when a long range drive by Gary Oliver was fumbled in the eighth minute by Rab Douglas but there were no takers for the rebound. In the 18th minute there was a touch of controversy when Stuart Malcolm was cautioned for an ugly tackle on Jamie Reid with many feeling that the colour of card produced by the referee was the wrong one.

Shortly after this Ciaran Summers was also booked for a tackle but this was to have repercussions later in the game. Before the end of the half Stenhousemuir saw a McMenamin header go wide from a Meechan cross go wide and a long range strike by Alan Lithgow saved without too much difficulty by Douglas.

Forfar though came closest to getting the next goal. A Swankie flick found Danny Denholm twelve yards out but his shot was well saved by Greg Fleming. The keeper though was well beaten by a 35 yard strike in the 42nd minute by Stephen Husband that crashed off the crossbar.

Forfar had started to exert pressure in the latter stages of the half but it was Stenhousemuir who had the first opportunity of the second when a Reid effort fizzed just over.

The prospect of a comeback looked unlikely when Forfar scored their second in the 50th minute. Once again Stenhousemuir were culpable as they were slow to react to a quickly taken corner kick by Omar Kader who picked out an unmarked Swankie and his powerful shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection as it flew into the net.

Three minutes later was effectively game over as the Warriors were reduced in numbers as Ciaran Summers was dismissed for his second caution for a foul on Kader. This meant a shuffling of the team with Sean Dickson dropping back into the left back role.

A double substitution was made to try and change fortunes just before the hour but to no avail though there was a slight uplift for a while and the deficit may have been reduced if Oliver hadn’t slipped whilst shooting from close range of the referee had taken action against Darren Dods who tripped McMenamin in a one on one situation after Dods had slipped but not even a foul was awarded.

Forfar snuffed out any potential light for Stenhousemuir in the 77th minute when Martyn Fotheringham struck a curling free-kick with pace into the net and that effectively sealed the game.

Forfar – Douglas, Baxter, Paterson, Malcolm [b18] [Dunlop 74], Dods, Husband, Kader [M.Fotheringham 66], Dale [Malin 66], Hilson, Swankie and Denholm. Subs not used – Templeman, Keiller, McLellan and Salmon

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Meechan, Lithgow, McMillan [b90], Summers [b23[so53], K.Millar, Reid [Grehan 59] Faulds [G.Fotheringham 59], McMenamin [Sludden 77][b78], Dickson and Oliver. Subs not used – Duncan, Lawson, R.Millar and Shaw.

Referee – Colin Steven

Assistants – Stuart MacMillan and Calum Spence