It was touch and go for Nicky Jamieson coming back from injury and he given as much time as possible to prove his fitness.
He was able to overcome his leg injury and took his place in the back four alongside Yeats, Crighton and Corbett with the later resuming his right back role.
Euan O’Reilly, Craig Bryson, Mikey Anderson and Craig Bryson made up the four man midfield.
Tam Orr and Matty Yates lead the line as Swifty stick with two strikers.
Mikey Miller missed out due to a close family wedding.
The Warriors know that a win today could well see them through to the next round. A Stenhousemuir and Montrose double would guarantee that outcome. A Stenhousemuir and Partick Thistle win will see Stenhousemuir finish second and could still qualify as a best placed runner up, pending other results in the competition.
Killie made a fast start and almost caught the Warriors out with a chance in the first minute, but Conor Brennan was in the right place at the right time to collect the shot.
Killie had an ever better chance inside 3 minutes when Liam Polworth dragged his shot just wide after a cutback from Ryan Alebiosu.
GOAL: Exact repeat of the earlier chance. This time Rory McKenzie cuts the ball back to Liam Polworth and this time he finds the corner of the net passed Brennan. KILMARNOCK 1-0 STENHOUSEMUIR [Polworth 5 minutes]
Stenhousemuir look to get back into the game and pick up the first corner of the match on 6 minutes. Matty Yates took the out swinging corner with Nicky Jamieson meeting it at the back post, but his header was immediately deflected back up the pitch.
Kilmarnock could’ve made it two just a moment later if not for a fine challenge in the box by Nicky Jamieson.
The Warriors have struggled to get into this game so far with Killie flexing their muscles at every opportunity.
Matty Yates, Mikey Anderson and Tam Orr say a 9th minute breakaway with Tam Orr’s shot being deflected for a corner, which was cleared by Walker.
10 minutes in and The Warriors are starting to find their feet. Killie are dangerous on the attack though and are willing to soak up the pressure and play on the counter.
20 minutes gone and there’s been not much chances for either team. Kilmarnock look like they can score at any opportunity and Stenhousemuir, despite seeing more of the ball, are struggling to make any clear chances aside from a few corners.
GOAL: Matty Yates picked up a dangerous free kick and the former Stranraer picked himself up and fired the resultant free kick in off the crossbar, what a strike! KILMARNOCK 1-1 STENHOUSEMUIR [Matty Yates 22 minutes]
Killie had a great chance to pull themselves back in front just a few moments later. Ryan Alebiosu is causing the visitors all sorts of problems and this time his cross across the box was missed by everyone.
And another chance but this time Brennan was at full stretch to keep Jones off the scoresheet.
Penalty to Kilmarnock as the referee judges Yeats to have blocked a cross with his arm. Seemed harsh and the Stenhousemuir players voiced their opinions on the decision.
GOAL: Oli Shaw makes no mistake from the spot and restores Kilmarnock’s lead. KILMARNOCK 2-1 STENHOUSEMUIR [Oli Shaw 32 minutes]
Shortly after, the first booking of the match was shown to Adam Corbett following a rough challenge.
Kilmarnock looked to extend their lead further in the 44th minute with their first corner of the match The Warriors cleared the first ball, but struggled with the second phase with Bryson eventually heading it out for another corner. This was a better corner but evaded everyone when even the slightest touch would’ve caused The Warriors problems.
HALF TIME: KILMARNOCK 2-1 STENHOUSEMUIR
No changes for the visitors as Stephen Swift seems to be content with what he saw.
Just two minutes into the second half and The Warriors concede another penalty as Nicky Jamieson is judged to have fouled in the box.
This time though, Oli Shaw’s penalty is blazed well over the bar.
Killie had another good chance as Armstrong strolled by Mikey Anderson who was covering left back, his cut back was met at the near post, but the shot was just wide.
GOAL: Killie eventually make it three as Daniel Armstrong gets on the end of a deep cross and beats Conor Brennan at his far post. KILMARNOCK 3-1 STENHOUSEMUIR [Armstrong 54 minutes]
SUBSTITUTION: Swifty makes his first changes of the match in 60 minutes with Ross Forbes and Will Sewell replacing Craig Bryson and Tam Orr. With the former receiving a welcome applause from the home support.
Stenhousemuir were denied their own penalty as Matty Yates went down with two hands on his back but nothing given.
SUBSTITUTION: Adam Corbett makes way for Scott Walker in 65 minutes.
Stenhousemuir continue to press and push for another goal and are working hard, but struggling to find any sort of breakthrough.
A successive collection of corners in the 70th minute was the best chance to trouble the Kilmarnock defence, but they fail to trouble the keeper.
Euan O’Reilly did trouble the keeper a few moments later though. His strike stung the keepers hands as he forced another succession of corners. The Winger is starting to find himself some space and is driving forward at every chance.
Another foul on Yates is ignored by the referee and as Killie then launch an attack, Yeats makes the same foul and is penalised.
GOAL: The Warriors defence is caught out with a long ball over the top. Another cut back to Oli Shaw and he can’t miss. KILMARNOCK 4-1 STENHOUSEMUIR [Shaw 79 minutes]
SUBSTITUTION : Euan O’Reilly and Mikey Anderson make way for Niyah Joseph and Adam Brown in 82 minutes.
Killie’s fourth completely killed off the game and the final ten minutes were played out with little incident.
FULL TIME: KILMARNOCK 4-1 STENHOUSEMUIR
A disappointing end to the group stages. But victories against the Highland League Champions and League One Montrose, as well as good performances against Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle means that there’s a lot to take from the Premier Sports Cup campaign.
Next up is the start of our league campaign as we welcome Albion Rovers to Ochilview.
