Stenhousemuir FC v Peterhead

Match Report

MATCH REPORTS

Stenhousemuir v Peterhead at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 06.01.18

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 449

Stenhousemuir 1 [McGuigan 28 pen,] Peterhead 4 [McAllister 45,46, Robertson 71,McLean 79]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Meechan, M.Dunlop, R.Dunlop, Donaldson, Marsh [Longworth 79], McGuigan [b45] [McMenamin 87], Ferry [b81], Scott, Paton and Cook [Murray 87]. Subs not used – Paterson, McMinn and Halleran.

Peterhead – Fleming, Ja Brown, Robertson, McCracken, , McIlduff, Leitch [b14], Stevenson [Reilly 85], Jo.Brown [S.Brown 67], McAllister, Gibson and Smith [McLean 42]. Subs not used – Norris, Ferry and Hobday.

Referee – Alan Newlands      Assistants – Andrew McWilliam and Jordan Curran

Both teams went into this game with records to maintain. The Warrior had won their last five games against the Blue Toon whilst a free scoring Peterhead had won their last five league games, so something had to give in this game.

Unfortunately for Stenhousemuir it was the visitors who kept their run going but the 4-1 victory belies the drama of the game which swung in Peterhead’s favour with goals just before and after half time from which Stenhousemuir failed to recover.

The Warriors for the bulk of the first period had been on top of the game and at times their swift attacking play deserved more reward than it received. Peterhead to their credit usually managed to scramble the danger clear with David McCracken marshalling the defence well under pressure. Indeed all the home side had to show for their efforts was a solitary goal from the penalty spot when Mark McGuigan converted after Alan Cook had been tripped by Mason Robertson in the box. Keeper Greg Fleming was beaten on this occasion but he kept the Warriors at bay with saves from David Marsh, with an outrageous back heel volley, and a Jimmy Scott header.

Peterhead had to make an enforced substitution towards the end of the half when ex-Warrior Alan Smith fell awkwardly and injured his arm but that didn’t seem to hinder the visitors as they equalised minutes later. As usual at a corner kick there was a lot of jostling in a packed box but referee Alan Newlands to the consternation of many spotted an infringement and awarded a penalty. The only clue to the culprit being that Mark McGuigan was booked. Rory McAllister converted the penalty to draw the game level.

Whether there was still a lack of concentration in the Stenhousemuir ranks at the restart they were to pay heavily for poor marking as McAllister scored Peterhead’s second goal within 20 seconds of the resumption when he met a McLean back heel and tucked the ball past Chris Smith.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of the home side as well as giving Peterhead confidence and the second half in the main proved to be a fairly one sided affair as Peterhead showed why they are the favourites in the eyes of many to win the league title. There was the odd sporadic attack from Stenhousemuir with Harry Paton to the fore but it always looked as if the next goal if any would come for Peterhead and this proved to be the case when ex-Warrior Robertson atoned for giving away the earlier penalty when he took advantage of lax marking to bullet a header home in the 71^st minute. Stenhousemuir’s misery was complete when Peterhead then scored a fourth with McLean heading home from close range, though it should have been disallowed as the referee missed a two handed push by McAllister that took a defender out of the equation. Mary Ferry was cautioned for dissent as he disputed the decision in a game that had promised so much and a first half display that was one of the best seen this season ultimately counted for nothing.