Stenhousemuir FC v Queen’s Park

Match Report

Stenhousemuir v Queens Park at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 16.5.15

SPFL Division One Play-off Final Second Leg           Att 1163

Stenhousemuir 1 [McMenamin 2] Queens Park 1 [Fraser 58] Aggregate Stenhousemuir 2 Queens Park 1

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, McCormack [b78], Summers, Meechan, Lithgow, Hodge, McMullan [b29], Faulds, McMenamin, Grehan [Watt 75] and Marenghi [Fotheringham 90]. Subs not used – Gallacher, Shaw, Sutherland and Moutinho.

Queens Park – Muir, Mitchell, Burns [b45], Berry [Carter 54], Quinn, Wharton, Woods, Slattery, McPherson [Hynes 81], Fraser and McElroy [Rooney 54][b78]. Subs not used – McGregor, Gibson, McVey and George.

Referee – Don Robertson              Assistants – Andrew McWilliam and Andy Milne

The Warriors made three changes from the starting eleven that had won the first leg at Hampden. Ross McMilan was absent through a family wedding that meant that game was his last outing as a Stenhousemuir player, whilst Kieran Millar was out of the squad through injury and Josh Watt who had also picked up a knock on Wednesday had to be content with a seat on the bench. Coming in to the opening line up were Kris Faulds, Martin Grehan and Anthony Marenghi. Queens made two changes with Ciaran McElroy and Ross McPherson replacing John Carter and Shaun Rooney though both made vital contributions later in the game.

The home side kicked off with the wind at their backs shooting towards the cemetery end and they started with a flurry of activity. They could have scored after only 30 seconds when Colin McMenamin headed a Ciaran Summers cross just past the post but the veteran striker made the breakthrough in the second minute heading a Paul McMullan corner home. Greg Fleming had to make more saves than his counterpart in the first leg and it was the same in this one tipping a Sean Burns strike, that had been deflected, round the post in 14 minutes. Bryan Hodge saw a 30 yard effort fly just over the bar and Marenghi saw a free-kick go just wide. Paul McMullan was the catalyst for much of the Stenhousemuir attacks and he came close to scoring in the 42^nd minute following a swift passing move but William Muir saved at close range.

The Spiders made a double substitution to try and get back into the game but before they had settled Faulds was set up by Hodge but shot wide of the target. In the 58^th minute though the scores on the day were level when ex-Warrior Shaun Fraser headed home much to the ire of the Stenhousemuir players who felt that Fleming had been fouled. The referee thought otherwise though and the goal stood. This gave the visitors the lift they needed and for most of the game they attacked the Stenhousemuir goal. Rooney had a decent chance in the 63^rd minute but was off balance and shot wide, then Fraser had a curler wide with Fleming rooted to the spot. Rooney and Carter combined only to have the latter see his shot turned round the post. At the other end Summers and Grehan combined and the former almost squeezed a shot past Muir who saved with his legs. As tensions build up the frustrations grew as well and Rooney was lucky to stay on the park following an altercation with Watt who was an innocent party.  With four minutes left another superb save by Fleming from a Woods half-volley kept the Warriors ahead on aggregate and that was the state of affairs when the final whistle blew to send the larger than normal Stenhousemuir support into wild celebrations that will live in the memory of the young supporters who invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players.

All in all it is safe to say that it had been a difficult season for the Warriors and although there was a sense of jubilation as well as relief they certainly will not want to be in the same position at the end of next season and Brown Ferguson will have a lot of hard work on his hands to make sure that it doesn’t happen. He will certainly be aiming to try and get as far up the table as possible and if the 15/16 season finishes without drama there won’t be too many complaints.