Stenhousemuir FC v Peterhead

Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Peterhead at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 4.3.16

Ladbrokes SPFL League One              Att 362

Stenhousemuir 3 [Cook 10, Robertson 16 McMenamin 64] Peterhead 1 [J.Brown 47]

This was a key game for the Warriors to keep Peterhead in the mix at the bottom area of the table so there was plenty of pressure on the sides to get a result. Stenhousemuir gave Connor Duthie his debut replacing Willis Furtado whilst Mason Robertson started for the first time in his first game at Ochilview. Both players were to have a positive impact on the proceedings.

There were also new signings on the bench with Graham Bowman now officially a Warrior being listed as a trialist in recent games and Thomas Grant the midfield signing from Fleetwood Town who had a cameo appearance in the latter stages of the game.

The early proceedings saw Stenhousemuir start slowly but luckily Peterhead weren’t able to take advantage. The home side were however to open the scoring with their first real chance of the game. Alan Cook being the scorer when he struck a 28 yard free kick low past the despairing dive of Graeme Smith.

This gave the Warriors confidence and a minute later Duthie nutmegged Michael McMullin before hitting a decent cross into the danger area but Robertson headed just wide. The same combination had greater success though in the 16^th minute when a Duthie corner was glanced into the net by Robertson with the faintest of touches.

Peterhead were now on the back foot and Stenhousemuir were in control. On the half hour proceedings were made more difficult for the Blue Toon who were reduced in numbers when Rory McAllister took his protestations too far after not being awarded a foul and he was dismissed for his comments.

That decision though seemed to affect Stenhousemuir as much as Peterhead and after it there was a definite lull in the proceedings as both teams took stock. It wasn’t until the 40^th minute before the next chance and it was set off by a lovely touch by Duthie that picked out an overlapping run by Ross Meechan, he in turn picked out Colin McMenamin and his shot on the run was well saved by Graeme Smith. Two minutes later there was a rare effort by Peterhead but Ryan Strachan dragged his shot wide. The half time interval came with Stenhousemuir two up but it could have been worse for the visitors as Aaron Comrie struck his own woodwork trying to intercept a Cook cross in the 44^th minute.

Manager Jim McInally rung the changes at half time and with Stenhousemuir were this time punished for a slow start when Jordan Brown converted a Leighton McIntosh knock down to reduce the leeway to one goal.

Stenhousemuir though were to get their third goal in the 64^th minute when Cook threaded a pass through to Colin McMenamin who held off his marker before firing home from the edge of the box.

There was a scare when Grant Anderson bundled the ball home with fifteen minutes remaining but the referee spotted an infringement so the ‘goal’ was chalked off.  

After this the Warriors saw the game out fairly comfortably and as the game progressed they always looked the more likely team to add to their tally.

Stenhousemuir – Crawford, Meechan, Summers, Marsh, Kerr, Berry [Grant 86], Duthie [Stirling 90], Millar, McMenamin [Furtado 65], Robertson and Cook. Subs not used – Manzana, Bowman, Roy and Shaw.

Peterhead – G.Smith, Comrie, McMullin, Scott [Noble h/t], Gordon, Strachan, Anderson, Brown [b89], McAllister [so 30], Ferry [McIntosh h/t] and  Stevenson [b59] [Redman 79]. Subs not used – A,Smith, Dzierzawski, Hobday and Riley.

Referee – David Munro         Assistants – Jordan Stokoe and David Doig