Airdrieonians v Stenhousemuir FC

Match Report

Airdrieonians v Stenhousemuir at Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie on 17.8.13

SPFL League One                             Att 722

Airdrieonians 0  Stenhousemuir 1[McNeil 90]

Airdrieonians – Stewart, O’Neill [Coogans 82], Boyle, McCormack, O’Byrne [b78], Sinclair, Blockley [Bain 39], Hardie, Lister, Coult and Hay[t][McLaren 67].Subs –not used Evans and Duncan

Stenhousemuir – C.Smith, Devlin, McKinlay, R.Smith, McMillan [b49][so 58], Anderson, Dickson [Malone 62], Ferguson [b78][McNeil 79], Gemmell, Higgins [Lynch 67] and D.Smith. Subs not used – Shaw, Douglas.

Referee – Don Robertson            Assistants – Stewart McMillan and Mark Stewart

This was a real snatch and grab by the Warriors in this game as they took all three points with a Ross McNeil strike in the 90^th minute of the game. The teams had met a fortnight ago in an action packed encounter and although it was not up to that standard there were plenty of talking points. Stenhousemuir started with the same eleven as last week and that meant that there was no return for Sean Lynch or Eddie Malone who had to be content with a place on the bench.

There was little action of note in the first half with the game being a slow burner. Airdrie through efforts from Martin Hardie and Lewis Coult did bring Chris Smith into action in the first quarter though the saves were regulation ones. The closest that Stenhousemuir came was when Sean Higgins was denied by a clearing header from Nathan Blockley then John Gemmell spun and his cross just bypassed Higgins. Sean Dickson had a driving run in the 32^nd minute into the box but when the ball broke to Darren Smith the Warrior could do no better than steer the ball wide.

Airdrie responded with a David Sinclair header from a Chris O’Neill cross that was once again saved by Smith. In the last minute of the half John Gemmell struck a free kick that Colin Stewart did well to keep out but it spun just the wrong side of Ross McMillan as he looked to tuck the rebound away.

The second half started with Stenhousemuir on top and Craig Anderson created a good chance for Darren Smith but once again he was unable to control and the ball went out for a goal kick. Airdrie had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 49^th minute when Ross McMillan was adjudged to have tripped Jim Lister in the box. McMillan was cautioned for the tackle and Lewis Coult stepped up to take the penalty. It was not well struck though and Chris Smith saved the shot. Lister was beginning to have the upper hand in the contest with McMillan and when the Warrior fouled him again in the 58^th minute he was sent off. This meant a reorganisation with McKinlay moving to centre and Dickson to left back. Dickson was then subbed and Malone took the left back berth. The defence didn’t look comfortable though and later in the game McKinlay returned to left back and Malone moved inside.

Lister just missed with an overhead kick whilst all this was going on but Airdrie in the main were not making their extra man count. Stenhousemuir were working hard to remain on level terms and several players were struggling as the game progressed. Whilst Dickson’s substitution was a tactical one the substitutions of Sean Higgins and Brown Ferguson came about when they were on their last legs as the lack of pre-season games seemed to catch up with them. The latter stages to the game