Stenhousemuir continued their impressive run in the league as they extended their winning run to 7 games. Goals from Euan O’Reilly and Matty Yates saw the Warriors run out 2-1 victors.
Stenhousemuir were hoping to build on their impressive 1-0 victory away at Dumbarton last weekend. Gary Naysmith named an unchanged lineup from that victory.
East Fife themselves came into the match of a good 4-0 victory at home to Elgin last Saturday.
It was a dream start for the Warriors when Euan O’Reilly opened the scoring after two minutes. Kinlay Bilham’s shot fell straight at the feet of O’Reilly who fired home his effort into the roof of the net.
O’Reilly caused problems again on the left wing after ten minutes, his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Nicky Jamieson went close from the resulting corner. Matty Yates also had a chance on the edge of the box, but Allan Fleming did well to save down low.
Stenhousemuir doubled their lead after 20 minutes when Matty Yates stepped up to take a free kick just outside the right edge of the box. He converted the free kick putting it right in the right corner of the net giving Fleming no chance to save.
The Warriors continued to dominate the first half with Matty Aitken, Yates and Taylor all having efforts before the half time whistle.
The Warriors started the second half positively, O’Reilly had a quick dart up the pitch, he fed Aitken who played a lovely through ball for Taylor who had Murdoch beaten for pace, but his cross didn’t find anybody.
Nathan Austin thought he had pulled a goal back for the visitors when he tapped home from close range on the hour mark, however the linesman had his flag up for offside.
The Warriors responded well by creating a chance of their own. A dangerous cross into the box was turned onto his own post by Alan Trouten. Nothing came from the following corner.
The Warriors came close to a third when O’Reilly got a yard of space and rattled a long-range effort off the post. Fleming then produced an excellent save from Aitken’s follow-up effort.
As the game progressed, East Fife upped the pressure and started to gain territory in the match. The Fifers had numerous half chances but struggled to really test Darren Jameson in the Warriors goal.
East Fife did get one back late on in added time, Nathan Austin headed home from close range after a McManus cross.
The visitors then forced Darren Jameson into a crucial stop in the dying moments of the match. McManus’s well struck effort from twelve yards out was wonderfully saved and made sure that the three points stayed at Ochilview.
LINE-UPS
Stenhousemuir | D Jamieson, Lynch, Buchanan, N Jamieson, Bilham [Meechan 70′], Wedderburn, Taylor [McKay 90′], Anderson, Yates [Brown 81′], O’Reilly [Berry 70′], Aitken [Ferrie 90′]
Substitutes not used | Lyle
Goals | O’Reilly [3′], Yates [21′]
Assists | Bilham [3′]
Bookings |D Jamieson, Lynch
East Fife | Fleming, Murdoch, Page, Easton, Docherty [Comerford 90′], Schiavone [Healy 45′], Millar [Trouten 57′], McManus, Walls [Nicol 90′], Shepherd [Mitchell 79′], Austin
Substitutes not used | Newton, Rolls, Ramsay
Goals | Austin 90’+5′
Assists | McManus 90’+5′
Bookings | Walls, McManus, Millar, Murdoch
Player of the Match | Matty Aitken
Match report by Angus Blacklock
