Stenhousemuir FC v Cowdenbeath

Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Cowdenbeath at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 27.8.11
Irn Bru Scottish League Division Two Att 621
Stenhousemuir 3 [Rodgers 56, McHale 73, Ferguson 76] Cowdenbeath 1 [Adamson 69]

Stenhousemuir went into this game against league leaders Cowdenbeath on the back of the tiring match against Falkirk but after a night off training on the Thursday they were raring to go. The Warriors had to make two changes to the starting eleven with Sean Dickson and Kevin McKinlay out through injuries and Iain Thomson and Ross McMillan stepped up. There was another injury before the start of the game as Chris McCluskey felt his hamstring and Ally Brown had to start at short notice. This incidentally is the second time this season that a player has had to be replaced after the warm up with Cowdenbeath being the opposition in that game as well.

There was little action during the first half though Stenhousemuir had lots of possession they were unable to transfer that into chances with the best being when a Brown Ferguson cross was headed wide by Andy Rodgers. The visitors seemed content to sit back and hit on the break though they themselves had little to talk about in the first period either. Ally Brown looked shaky in the early stages but was rarely pressurised and as the game progressed he was able to settle down. The only real talking point of the half was when a Kenny Adamson cross was headed goalwards by Jon Robertson but was deflected wide by Ross McMillan though there was a possibility that a hand was used in the process.

Stenhousemuir were caught napping at Falkirk immediately after the resumption and David Irons was determined that situation was not going to arise again with the players coming onto the pitch five minutes before the resumption and they were therefore sufficiently warmed up before the restart. The manager had done this previously at Gretna and Morton and it looks as if could become a regular occurrence at Ochilview.

Certainly Stenhousemuir were sharper in the early stages and within a minmute of the restart Stewart Kean had a powerful strike saved comfortably by Yossef Bejaoui, this was followed by another Kean effort that was deflected for a corner. Andy Rodgers then did well to intercept a long ball that had fell between Bejaoui and Joe Mbu but was unable to keep the ball in play. At this stage the Warriors were in control and they eventually took the lead in the 56th minute when Rodgers struck a Paul McHale cross into the net from close range. McHale provided the threat once again three minutes later but this time Kean headed across goal and over.

Cowdenbeath were not the league leaders for nothing though and they equalised in the 69th minute though a superbly struck shot by Adamson that gave Brown no chance. The goal was against the run of play but could have spurred Cowdenbeath onto better things. To Stenhousemuir’s credit though they struck back four minutes later when a drive by Paul McHale was drilled low into the net. In the 76th minute the game was over when a piece of magic by Stevie Murray created space and his cross to the back post was tucked home by Brown Ferguson to put the Warrior’s two goals up.

This meant that when Joe McCafferty made his debut he was in a good position as there was no pressure on the youngster and he could just enjoy the situation.

This was the Warrior’s best performance of the season so far and the fact that despite the rigours of the Falkirk game they managed to keep going until the end of the game augers well for future matches and they would be disappointed that they have a enforced break due to the cancellations due to International fixtures

Stenhousemuir – Brown, Lyle, Thomson, Corrigan, McMillan, McHale [McCafferty 84], Ferguson, Rodgers [Quinn 89], Kean [Fraser 87], Paton and Murray. Subs not used – Hamilton and McCluskey

Cowdenbeath – Bejaoui, Miller, Adamson, Makel [Milne 73], Mbu, Armstrong, McKenzie, Robertson, Linton, Coult [Stewart 55] and Morton [b40]. Subs not used – Winter, Byrne and Flynn

Referee – George Salmond Assistants – Gavin Ross and Rodney Marshall