Stenhousemuir FC v Elgin City

Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Elgin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 24.03.18

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 422

Stenhousemuir 0 Elgin City 2 [McLeish 26, McHardy 55]

Stenhousemuir – McMinn, Marsh [b43][so79], M.Dunlop, R.Dunlop, Donaldson, Ferry ,McGuigan, Paterson, Longworth [Murray 74], Ferns and Cook [McMenamin 66][b90]. Subs not used – Meechan, Cunningham, Scott and Foden.

Elgin City – Long, Eadie [b65], Allan, McHardy, Bronsky, McDonald, Cooper, Cameron, McLeish [S.Sutherland 71], McGovern [b82][Whitehead 90] and Smith [Bryne 82]. Subs not used – Ferguson, Ross and Waters.

Referee – Gavin Ross             Assistants – Gordon Crawford and David Burns.

Both sides went into this game having been beaten by bottom side Cowdenbeath in the previous week. Elgin had struggled away from home and with a fourth place play-off spot up for grabs the Warriors could have consolidated their position.

That wasn’t the way that the match transpired however as the Highland side were able to make the long journey home with all three points after a relatively comfortable win. There was a change to the Warriors defence with Ross Meechan being replaced by David Marsh with the former not having trained on the Thursday night whilst in midield Harry Paton was out through suspension and his energy was a big miss against an Elgin side that had changed to five midfield players for this game.

There was little in the way of action in the early stages of the game though the visitors had slightly the better of the play. The closest that the Warriors had come to a goal was via an Alan Cook header that flashed wide of the target.  Elgin took the lead in the simpliest of fashions in the 26^th minute when Brian Cameron was given too much space and his cross from the left flank picked out Chris McLeish who made no mistake with his first time effort to put the visitors ahead.

The Warriors rarely threatened at the other end and if truth be told there were few opportunities at either end. With three minutes of the half left a long range rocket by Ruaridh Donaldson was cleared for a corner and when it led to a counter attack which ended with Scott Smith being brought down just outside of the box. David Marsh was duly cautioned for his misdemeanour and this was to have a bearing later in the game.

The second half in contrast to the first started well for Stenhousemuir and Jamie Longworth saw a shot cleared off the line by Jordan Allan just after the restart. Minutes later a chance fell to Mark McGuigan but his effort went over the bar.

That was as good as it got though for Stenhousemuir as Elgin extended their lead in the 55^th minute. A long throw was met by McLeish and Lewis McMinn tipped the effort round the post. From the corner though Darryl McHardy wasn’t picked up properly at the back post and he headed home from close range. McGuigan had a shot cleared off the line just after the hour and Nicki Paterson hit the rebound over. 

The chances of a comeback were effectively ended in the 70^th minute when Marsh picked up his second caution and he had been treading a line for a while before his dismissal. This was the first sending off for the Warriors this season and came at a crucial time.

Although McGuigan had another effort saved by Brett Long it was Elgin who ended the stronger and Cameron was unlucky with a shot that crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten and the last chance fell to City when Andy McDonald headed wide.

All in all not a good day as the Warriors slumped to their third consecutive home defeat and severely dented their chances of getting into the play-offs.