Stenhousemuir FC v Brechin City

Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Brechin City at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 6.5.17

Ladbrokes SPFL League One              Att 557

Stenhousemuir 1 [Shaw 61] Brechin City 1 [Trouten 5 pen]

Stenhousemuir – Bowman, Robertson [b4], Duthie, Marsh, Kerr, Berry, Manzana [Roy 83],  Millar, McMenamin, Shaw and Furtado. Subs not used – McCormack, Meechan, Summers, Grant, Smith and McCabe.

Brechin City – G.Smith, McLean, Dyer, Lynas, Hill, Dale [b56], Trouten [Ford 29], Graham, Jackson, Watt and Love [Fusco 65]. Subs not used – O’Neil, Caldwell and Dods.

Referee – Greg Aitken           Assistants – Alan Mulvanny and Ross McLeod

Both teams went into this game needing points for their prospective play-off spots with Stenhousemuir knowing that they needed to match Peterhead not to be relegated. The home side made one change to the starting eleven from the side that beat Queens Park at Hampden with Carlos Manzana Martinez starting for the first time this season for the injured Mark Gilhaney.

Although the defence has been settled in recent weeks Mason Robertson was caught out in the fourth minute when Ally Love exploited room down the flank and after creating an opening for himself he was adjudged to have been fouled by the Stenhousemuir player. A penalty was awarded and Robertson was duly cautioned. Love was lucky not to be booked himself for dissent as he felt a sending off was the proper decision. Nonetheless he was celebrating when Alan Trouten sent Graham Bowman the wrong way to put Brechin ahead.

The game threatened to boil over for a spell after this but eventually settled down. Willis Furtado came close with a run and shot that Graeme Smith saved at the second attempt after seven minutes. The visitors came clser though in the 12^th minute when Love once again was given too much room and Bowman did well to keep his shot out and there was a touch of good fortune when Trouten was unable to control the rebound.

Love was causing problems and he had another chance in the 15^th minute after eluding Manaza and waltzing into the box but his effort from 10 yards went just wide with Bowman rooted to the spot. Two minutes later the Warriors could have equalised when Furtado whipped in a cross but Oli Shaw’s header from close range went just wide of the target. Colin McMenamin was next to have an opportunity in the 28^th minute but his effort from a Furtado corner went wide as well. It was the same story at the other end when Love set up Andy Jackson but the usually deadly striker’s header glanced wide as well.

The second half started better for Stenhousemuir but Shaw with a free kick and Furtado with a dipping effort both just missed the target. The best chance appeared to come for Stenhousemuir though in the 56^th minute when at long last they breached the Brechin defence but the referee failed to play advantage and blew for an earlier foul and the danger was gone.

Eventually Stenhousemuir were to get a foothold into the game when Shaw headed with precision into the net giving Graeme Smith no chance. At that stage Stenhousemuir were in the play-offs as was Brechin at the other end. Things were to go wrong though for Stenhousemuir when Peterhead who had been behind eventually took the lead against a weakened Alloa Athletic side. Brechin were able to see the game out without too much pressure and indeed if Jackson had taken his chances they would have won as he missed the target with only the keeper to beat after being set up by Liam Watt and in the last minute saw a shot saved by Bowman.

In the end though it didn’t matter and although Stenhousemuir had picked up seven points in their last three games they were eventually relegated on goal difference though they actually had more points than the previous season. They fought hard throughout the season but the league table doesn’t lie and therefore the future of the club will be in League Two..