Stenhousemuir vs Kelty Hearts

Match Report

There was a very vocal Kelty support at Ochilview and they were given plenty to shout about in the 12^th minute as their team took the lead. The goal came from a spell of Warriors pressure in which we had bodies up the park, allowing Kelty to counter and initiate a 3v2 where Cardle was able to slip in Agyeman who was able to finish well past an onrushing Marshall.

The Warriors did respond well and should have been level in the 20^th minute. A good passing move saw the ball go wide to Ross Lyons who crossed into the box towards O’Reilly but the ball didn’t fall for him. Wedderburn was able to recycle however and did well to get it back to O’Reilly who’s shot was blocked into the path of Thomson but just as the striker looked set to score, his shot was blocked by a last ditch challenge.

Despite this, the Warriors did equalise on 22 minutes. Thomson did well to beat Hooper and slide it inside to Brown who shimmied one way and went the other, creating the space to have a shot towards goal which went past Jamieson via a deflection.

Kelty were back in front 10 minutes later, once again on the counter attack. The ball came to Cardle on the right hand side edge of the box and he cut inside Wedderburn before reversing a low shot which wrongfooted Marshall and went in at the near post.

The visitors then pushed on before the break and almost grabbed a third on 38 minutes as Cardle was slipped clean through on goal before Marshall saved well with his feet, keeping the score at 1-2 going into half time.

In the 52^nd minute the Warriors so nearly drew level as O’Reilly turned two players simultaneously on the right before whipping in a dangerous ball across the 6 yard box which agonisingly only just evaded both Orr and the far post.

The boys came close again on 65 minutes. This time a Forbes freekick from far out was struck expertly towards the top corner and seemed goal bound until Jamieson pulled off a save of the season contender to preserve the visitors lead.

Painfully for the Warriors, Kelty countered and grabbed a third goal. Barjonas was slipped through after a 2v1 and although Marshall was able to get a clean foot on the ball, his attempted clearance ricocheted off of Barjonas and into the net.

Kelty then applied the icing to the cake in the 71^st minute after a good passing move saw the ball go wide to Philip who’s first time low cross found Agyeman who finished well from close range.

The home fans were on their feet in the 78^th minute as Forbes ball into the box was volleyed home emphatically by Thomson who was only denied a goal of the season nomination by the lineman’s flag.

The Warriors came close yet again on 85 minutes as Forbes showed again what he’s capable of from distance, cracking a shot off the bar with Jamieson nowhere near it.

The scoreline finished 1-4 in a match where although the Warriors had chances, they were well beaten by a superior attacking performance from Kelty Hearts.

Stenhousemuir: Marshall, Lyon, Coll, Jamieson, Corbett, Forbes, O’Reilly, Wedderburn, Christie, Thomson, Brown

Substitutes: Graham, Orr, Hughes, Anderson, Wilson, Tierney, Reid

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Hooper, McNab, O’Ware, Philip, Tidser, Black, Barjonas, Agyeman, Cardle, Higginbotham

Substitutes: Hill, Donaldson, Finnan, Peggie

Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsX0aJWrpN4

Stephen Swift interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b8-OY3Vffo