Many years from now, in history books yet unwritten, Warriors fans will recount their memories of the match today and recollect the victory over East Fife that won Stenhousemuir FC their first ever league title.
And while the 6th of April 2024 will live long in the memory, there are three critical games that may not earn the elevation of today’s match. It will be tales of the rainy Tuesday November night against Peterhead and that Adam Brown goal, James and his giant peach under the rock and a gritty result at Bonnyrigg Rose in March.
Stenhousemuir 2-0 Peterhead, 14th November 2023. It was a rainy Tuesday night under the lights at Ochilview in a 2nd v 1st clash with Stenhousemuir being the chasers.
A 3-goal victory would have put The Warriors top of the table. Stenhousemuir came out with intent from the start to go out and get the victory. Stenhousemuir were rewarded for the fast start when Mikey Anderson got on the end of a Kinlay Bilham cross in the 23rd minute to give the home side a 1 goal lead. Just five minutes later we saw a goal of the season contender from Adam Brown whose looping shot from outside the box found the top corner. Stenhousemuir pushed to get the third goal which would have put them top of the league, but they could not get the elusive goal.
It was the third match of the 12-game winning run and the victory and performance from the match was crucial in the games leading after the Peterhead victory.
Dumbarton 0-1 Stenhousemuir, 9th December 2023. Stenhousemuir went into the match with a point to prove, Dumbarton had handed The Warriors their only defeat to this point in the season and the players wanted to put that right.
It was an even match in treacherous conditions. Stenhousemuir got their piece of luck in the 87th minute. Mikey Anderson’s shot was deflected off James Berry’s backside into the back of the net fooling Brett Long in the process.
It was a big result that stretched the winning run to six games and increased the gap at the top of the league.
Bonnyrigg Rose 0-1 Stenhousemuir, 2nd March 2024. After the disappointing 1-6 defeat to Clyde the week before, big questions were asked of the side in the run in can they see out the title?
All those questions were answered at New Dundas Park. The match was far from a classic, but Stenhousemuir battled on a difficult pitch where not much football was played and eventually got the winner in the 82nd minute. A Bradley Rodden cross was met by Matty Aitken to give the Warriors a late lead. Stenhousemuir then defended resolutely to see out the victory.
You could see what it meant to the team at full time with the scenes. It was a result that answered many questions after the disappointment of the week before. It got the side back on track and started another unbeaten run to this point.
Enjoy this weekend and the celebrations that follow, Warriors fans, make the most of it – memories are made on days like these and will be retold on days not like these in the years to come.
