Stenhousemuir vs Edinburgh City

Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Edinburgh City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 25.01.20

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 502

Stenhousemuir 1 [Hopkirk 12] Edinburgh City 2 [Handling 54, Shepherd 78]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Tiffoney, McLaughlin [b9], A.Munro [so 81], Wilson, Blair, Hopkirk, McBrearty [McBride 73], Moore, Spence [Massouaghou 86] and McGuigan [Biabi 79]. Subs not used – Watters, Armstrong, Burns, and Marley

Edinburgh City – Martin, Thomson, Balatoni, Laird, Handling. Sinclair [b20][Kane 82], Wilson, Crane [b89], Shepherd [Court 86], L.Henderson and Harris [Brown 90]. Subs not used – Beveridge, Quate, Hall, and Newman.

Referee – Peter Stuart                       Assistants – Joseph Lawson and Richard Murray

After the win at Elgin the previous week the Warriors were hoping to use that as a platform for this game against an Edinburgh City side that had lost their last couple of games but were still one of the best footballing teams in the league.

After Graeme Smith did well to punch clear it was the home side who took the lead in the 12^th minute of the match when David Hopkirk collected a through ball before eluding his marker and slotting the ball past Alan Martin and into the net.

The visitors responded with an Alex Harris effort that went just past the post and Danny Handing came close with a shot that dipped and swerved but a watchful Smith was able to tip the ball over the bar. Despite these flurries by the Citizens the Warriors held firm and for most of the half they had the better of the game.

The game however changed in the fifty fourth minutes when a piece of bad luck for Stenhousemuir and debatable refereeing colluded to see City equalise. Stenhousemuir almost scored when an Andy Munro header from a corner crashed off the bar and this led to a swift counter attack with Calum Crane advancing at pace before picking out Handing who tucked the ball home from close range. The goal could maybe have been defended better but what was worse was the fact that the ball appeared to go out of play on the halfway line but wasn’t picked up by the assistant referee.

Mark McGuigan then struck the post and Hopkirk was able to capitalise on the rebound as the game began to move in Edinburgh’s favour as they grew in confidence and were causing problems with their swift attacks as the game became stretched. The visitors almost took the lead when a Craig Thomson was diverted towards goal by Jonathan Tiffoney and Smith had to be sharp to stop an own goal. Handing came close again and Harris saw a shot saved by Smith’s foot before they carved the defence open once too often and Scott Shepherd scored City’s second goal.

It would have been best for the Warriors if the final whistle had blown there and then as in the 81^st minute Andy Munro was sent off when he caught Shepherd with an elbow. Although the captain said it wasn’t intentional it was a reckless challenge in the end. Handing missed an open goal near the end but the biggest talking point was when David Irons was dismissed from the dugout for reportedly using foul and abusive language. There is no doubt that he was unhappy with the performance of the officials but he has disputed the charge about what he was meant to have said and it is likely that there will be an appeal made.