Stenhousemuir FC v Peterhead

Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Peterhead at Ochilview Park on 25.10.14 SPFL Division One Att 423

Stenhousemuir 1 [McMenamin 60], Peterhead 2 [McAllister 70, 90 pen] Stenhousemuir went into this game on the back of the 4-0 victory at Forthbank the previous week and although they were hoping to build on this performance they knew that Peterhead would be a totally different kettle of fish.

Manager Scott Booth kept the same starting eleven and in the early stages of a game that was hampered by strong wind and rain it looked to be a good move as the Warriors started brightly, and had Colin McMenamin got the merest of touches on a Tom Walsh cross after five minutes he would surely have scored.

Gary Oliver whizzed a 25 yard free-kick inches over shortly after before the on loan Hearts youngster was booked for simulation following a mazy run into the box in the 16th minute. This was followed by a fine save two minutes later by Graeme Smith who denied Tom Walsh with a fine one handed save and from the resultant corner Ross McMillan headed wide.

The Blue Toon gradually worked themselves into the game, however, and in the 31st minute Ryan Strachan smashed a long range effort just over the bar against the wind. Alan Lithgow had to look sharp to deny Rory McAllister with a fine block in 37 minutes and this was followed five minutes from the break Jordan Brown’s looping header off Jamie Stevenson’s corner came back off the bar.

Immediately after the restart Stevenson came close for the visitors, but he was unlucky to see his 28 yard blockbuster slip inches wrong side of the upright as the visitors sought to use the wind to their advantage and in the early stages adopted a shoot on sight policy. Stenhousemuir though came close themselves when a Walsh effort was tipped round the post in the 53rd minute.

This was followed in the 58th minute when Jamie Reid cracked an effort off the crossbar from just inside the box. On the hour the Warriors took the lead when Walsh, on his home debut, drove to the left byline and when he fired in a peach of a cross, Colin McMenamin was on hand to head down and in at the back post.

The visitors made a positive change when they subbed Reece Donaldson and pushed on Andy Rodgers in the 70th minute and this paid instant dividends when he played in Rory McAlister with his first touch and the striker slotted home the leveller from 16 yards. McAllister had been looking more tetchy as the game progressed but this gave him a new lease of life.

As the game ebbed and flowed Alan Lithgow just failed to get a touch on a cross as he roamed into the Peterhead box when once again a touch could have meant a goal.

It went all wrong though in the last minute of the game with Stenhousemuir reduced in numbers As Lithgow was being treated for an injury Jamie Stevenson made a foray down that area of the pitch and went down under a challenge from Ross McMillan, the referee Gavin Duncan awarded a penalty on the instruction of his assistant although the Peterhead player seemed to trip over his own feet. Before the penalty could be taken Scott Booth was sent to the stand for his comments to the referee and other assistant referee.

There then followed a substitution but all these delays didn’t affect Rory McAllister who rolled the ball into the corner of the net sending Greg Fleming the wrong way. The final whistle blew just after this and thus Peterhead secured all three points.

This was harsh on Stenhousemuir who played well for large stages of the game as did Peterhead in atrocious conditions.

Both teams could take positives from elements of the game but sadly for the Warriors the end result is what matters and in this case it was Peterhead who were victorious.

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Duncan, Greacen [b45], McMillan, Lithgow [b84][Summers 90], K.Millar, Reid, Faulds, McMenamin [b77][Sludden 85], Oliver [b16][Watt 77] and Walsh. Subs not used – Meechan, Fotheringham, Hodge and Shaw

Peterhead – G.Smith, Cox, Noble [b77], Donaldson [b54][Rodgers 70], Ross [b51], Strachan, Brown [Richardson 89], Redman, McAllister, Stevenson and Riley [R.Smith 90]. Sub not used – Jarvie

Referee – Gavin Duncan

Assistants – Joseph Lawson and Martin McCarthy