Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir FC

Stirling Albion 3 [Mullen 33, Robertson 48, McKenna 80] Stenhousemuir 1 [Dalziel 50]

Stenhousemuir’s Challenge Cup campaign fizzled out at  Forthbank as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat. Manager John Coughlin rung the changes from Saturday’s match against East Fife with six of the starting eleven being replaced. Stirling Albion on the other hand made only the one change and that was enforced as David O’Brien was cuptied.

The Warriors started the game with a positive intent and they created their first chance in the 3^rd minute when Andy Stirling whipped in a cross from the right for Iain Diack whose header was comfortably saved. Five minutes later Diack had another opportunity after being played through but took a touch too much as he steadied himself and his effort was blocked. Nevertheless it was a promising start. Stirling gradually came into the game and Ross McCord had an effort just wide of the target. Kevin Motion then saw a lob land on the roof of the net after Scott Christie had punched the ball clear of the danger area. The home side were coming more into the game though and Michael Mullen had a diagonal shot just go wide in the 21^st minute and Scott Robertson saw an effort blocked by Gary Thom in the 27^th. A minute later the Warriors almost took the lead when Iain Thomson played the ball behind the Albion defence and Iain Diack hustled to win ball before firing past Christie only to hit the base of the post. Stirling took the lead in the 33^rd minute when Michael Mullen found himself with plenty time and space on the edge of the box and fired past Scott Bennett and into the net. Just before half time the home side almost scored their second when a McCord shot was deflected just wide of the goals.

Stenhousemuir did not make the most of their reprieve though as they went two down in the 48^th minute when Chris McLeod gave Martin Grehan enough room to play an overhead kick from the touchline into the danger area where Scott Robertson was on hand to fire home. This could have been a fatal blow but the Warriors got back into the game in the 50^th minute. Andy Stirling played the ball wide to Robert Love who looked offside and he picked out sub Scott Dalziel who swept the ball into the net. A minute later Stirling almost got their third when Mullen picked up a loose ball and shot just over. The Warriors tried to get back into the game but lacked the telling pass and their game started to struggle as time progressed. Their cause was not helped by the dismissal of Andy Stirling for a second caution when he kicked out at Grehan after being fouled in the 77^th minute. After this the Albion utilised the extra space well and they scored the third and final goal in the 80^th minute when Andy Gibson drilled the ball into David McKenna who turned the ball into the net. It was then just left for the game to meander to an end

Stirling Albion – Christie, Graham, Forsyth, O’Neill [Young 81], Roycroft, McCord [Murphy 70], Gibson, Robertson, Grehan, Mullen [McKenna 75] and Devine [b87]. Subs not used – Corr and Hogarth

Stenhousemuir – Bennett, Lyle, S.Thomson [Dalziel h/t], Thom, McLeod, I.Thomson, Love, Brand, Diack, Stirling [b65][so 77] and Motion. Subs not used – O’Reilly, Molloy, Scullion and McCluskey

Referee – Frank McDermott      

Assistants – Charlie Smith and Raymond White