Stenhousemuir FC v Alloa Athletic

MATCH REPORTS
Stenhousemuir v Alloa Athletic at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 24.9.16
Ladbrokes League One Att 466
Stenhousemuir 2 [Furtado 79, Shaw 90]  Alloa Athletic 2 [Kerr og 3, Goodwin 51]

The Warriors went into this game hoping that they would get a lift from the comeback against Peterhead the previous week as they sought their first win of the season. Alloa on the other hand have found the winning habit and were sitting top of the league. The one query for them was wither their exploits earlier in the week when they lost narrowly to a strong Celtic team due to two late goals would have an adverse effect.

It was therefore important that the home side make things difficult for their opponents from th start and then build on their performance as the game progressed. However things didn’t go to plan as they gifted the Wasps a goal after only three minutes when Fraser Kerr attempted to clear a cross only succeeded in slicing the ball over Colin McCabe and into his own net. It took the Warriors a while to recover from that setback but they were still in arrears when the half time whistle blew with relatively few chances being created by either side.

The start of the second half was also a disaster for the Warriors as they gifted Alloa a second goal. This time David Marsh [who was playing as a trialist as his registration hadn’t been cleared] played a blind pass back towards McCabe, it was intercepted by Greig Spence and although he wasn’t able to get a shot in himself he was able to pick out Jim Goodwin who fired into the net.

A minute later Alan Cook fired into the side net following a crossfield pass by Willis Furtado. In the 54th minute Goodwin blotted his copybook and make the game harder for his colleagues by been sent off for an elbow into Jamie McCormack. The referee Craig Napier was in the perfect position to see the incident.

Both teams re-arranged after this with Stenhousemuir making an attacking move by replacing Marsh with Mark Gilhaney. Alan Cook forced Neil Parry to stretch to tip a probing cross away from danger. It was Alloa though that had the best chance when a Calum Waters free kick was met by Gordon but went straight to the keeper.

In the 79th minute Cook played a weighted pass from the centre circle to pick out a Furtado run and the Frenchman shot across goal and into the net for his first ever senior goal. Maybe there was just a chance of repeating the comeback of the previous week and Stenhousemuir pushed forward to try and get the equaliser. Alloa changed their formation again with the focal point of their attack Spence being replaced by the more defensive Jason Marr with Longworth playing the lone role up front.
Alloa’s weakness appeared to be long balls from one wing to the back post and this was highlighted in the 87th minute when a probing pass by Furtado picked out Oli Shaw at the back stick but his effort struck the base of the post and went out. Alloa were not just hanging on though and they almost put the game beyond doubt  in the 90th minute when Graeme Holmes dispossessed Mark ilhaney and strode forward. He picked out Longworth whose twists and turns created an opening but McCabe did well to save his strike. That proved to be the key as in time added on the Warriors equalised.  Once again Cook proved to be the provider this time with a long ball to the back post for Shaw and this time the youngster made no mistake to tuck the ball away for what was his first senior goal as well. The Warriors showed plenty of fighting spirit once again but they know that they have got to cut out basic errors in they are going to get that elusive win.   

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack, Meechan, Marsh [t][Gilhaney 63], Kerr, Berry, Furtado, Stirling [Roy 77], McMenamin [b82], Shaw and Cook. Subs not used – McCroary, Hamilton, Summers, Roman [t] and Millar.

Alloa Athletic – Parry, Taggart, Waters, Graham, Gordon, Goodwin [so 54], Flannigan, Robertson, Spence [Marr 86], Cawley [Longworth 67] and Kirkpatrick [Holmes 58]. Subs not used – Wilson, Hoggan, Donnelly and McDowall

Referee – Craig Napier  Assistants – Michael Banks and Drew Kirkland