Stenhousemuir FC v Dumbarton

The Stenhousemuir players and management were desperate to show that the defeat at Airdrie had been an aberration and were intent on getting back to winning ways. They also had a 100% home record to defend and by the end of the game they had managed to achieve both objectives

The Warriors went into the game without Eric Paton who was missing through injury with Sean Dickson coming off the bench. There was also a change in goalkeepers as Chris McCluskey replaced Ally Brown.

The game started with Stenhousemuir full of endeavour but it was the Sons who almost opened the scoring after seven minutes through a long range effort by Ross McKinnon that dipped and swerved in the air and Chris McCluskey did well to tip it over the bar. At the other end of the field Willie Lyle and Stevie Murray combined for the former to put a cross into the danger area that Stewart Kean met with a diving header than went just over the bar. Kean came even closer in the 25^th minute when a quick turn and shot from 25 yards almost caught Stephen Grindlay out but the keeper just managed to scramble the ball round the post.

He could do nothing however, in the 29th minute when Iain Thomson picked out Andy Rodgers and he took his time before thundering a 20 yard effort into the top corner of the net. McCluskey saved the Warriors again when he managed to tip a deflected Scott Agnew effort over. In the main it was the home side that were having the bulk of the play and they deservedly doubled the lead in the 45^th minute when Ross McMillan headed a Murray corner into the net.

After the half time interval there is always a danger that it takes a few minutes to get back into a rhythm and the Warriors were almost punished within seconds of the resumption. A Mark Gilhaney shot was saved by McCluskey but Pat Walker followed up to dispatch the ball into the net. Luckily for Stenhousemuir the Dumbarton celebrations were cut short as Walker was adjudged to be offside and the goal disallowed. Play transferred to the other end and Thomson picked out Kean on the right and his driven cross was met by Rodgers who missed the target from close range when it looked as if he should score. Minutes later Dumbarton’s Bryan Prunty failed to hit the target with a scooped effort that went just wide of the target.

Dumbarton were coming more into the game as it progressed and McCluskey was called into action once again in the 68^th minute to save another Agnew deflected shot.

The game looked to be over though in the 76^th minute when Stenhousemuir, against the run of play, scored their third when McMillan headed home a Murray pin point cross after Alan Lithgow had left McMillan unmarked as he attempted to intercept.

Dumbarton to their credit tried to get back into the game and they scored in the 84^th minute when Scott Agnew struck a free kick in McCluskey’s bottom right corner of the net. Despite Stenhousemuir being two goals ahead at this stage they had to play more defensively in the latter stages to prevent Dumbarton making further inroads into the lead. In the end the Warriors stood firm and Agnew’s effort proved to be a consolation goal.

This victory means that Stenhousemuir retain third position in the league and like leaders Cowdenbeath have won all four home league games played this season and of course will be hoping to extend that run next week when they host Brechin City who have a bit of a hex on Stenhousemuir in recent times. 

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Lyle [b78], C.Hamilton, Corrigan, McMillan, Thomson, Ferguson [J.Hamilton 90], Rodgers [b79] [Quinn 83], Kean, Dickson and Murray. Unused Subs – McCafferty, Fraser, and Brown

Dumbarton – Grindlay, Nugent, Creaney, Lithgow, McNiff [Brannan 90], McKinnon [Borris 71], Gilhaney, Nicol [Wallace 90], Prunty, Agnew and Walker. Unused Subs – Ramage and Ewing

Referee – David Somers              Assistants – Paul Reid and William Ferguson