Stenhousemuir vs Dundee United

Match Report

MATCH REPORTS
Stenhousemuir v Dundee United at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir on 16.7.19
Betfred Cup Section A Att 1,089
Stenhousemuir 1 [A.Munro 70 ] Dundee United 2 [Watson 50, Butcher 54]

Stenhousemuir – Marley, McIlduff, McKernon, Halleran, McGuigan [Anderson 67], Hopkirk, Cook [Daramola 83], McLaughlin, M.Munro, Scullion [Luke 83] and A.Munro. Subs not used – Smith and Watters.

Dundee United – Giegrist, Connolly, Reynolds, McMullan [C.Smith 67], Robson, Butcher, Chalmers, Harkes [Stanton 52], Shankland, Appere and Watson. Subs not used – Mehmet, Sporle, Clark, King and Banks.

Referee – Steven Kirkland Assistants – Graham McNellie and Euan Birth

This was the first meeting between the clubs since Stenhousemuir’s heroic win in the Challenge Cup final of 1995 and the first in the League Cup since 1972.

In total no less than ten players made their debut for the Warriors in this game with only Andy Munro, Mark McGuigan and Alan Cook playing for the Stenhousemuir last season whilst Kieran Anderson was starting his second spell at the club and Ryan Watters and Graeme Smith were unused subs. The home side were missing David Marsh and Chris O’Neil who were serving suspensions picked up with their old clubs last season.

Dundee United had already made their bow in this season’s competition but they rung the changes for this game with five changes to the starting eleven.

It was a warm and sunny evening at Ochilview and perhaps the players were unaccustomed to this as it was a relatively slow start by both clubs. Last season Lawrence Shankland picked up a hat-trick against the Warriors whilst at Ayr and he looked as if he was going to get on the score sheet when he tucked the ball past Kyle Marley in the 14th minute but any celebrations were cut short by the flag of the assistant referee. The game transferred down the other end and Stenhousemuir were awarded a free-kick taken by Thomas Halleran and headed home by Andy Munro. It was Stenhousemuir’s turn to be frustrated as this attempt was also disallowed though it looked a tight decision. The Tangerines were having plenty of the play with ex-Warrior Paul McMullan looking to be the catalyst for the half chances that were being created. The makeshift home defence though were well disciplined though and managed to protect the keeper. Indeed the best chance possibly fell to the home side but Liam Scullion’s cross was just missed by Alan Cook.

Dundee United showed intent at the start of the second half and they were to take the lead in the 50th minute through a Paul Watson header from close range after Marley didn’t collect a Mark Connolly header from a Logan Chalmers corner cleanly and the ex-Bairn took full advantage.

That was a body blow for the home side and things were to get worse for them shortly after this set-back when Calum Butcher drove home from just inside the box after he picked up a loose ball four minutes later.

The heads could have went down after this, but to Stenhousemuir’s credit they kept fighting and then came close to scoring in the 69th minute when Ben Siegrist tipped a 20 yard effort by David Hopkirk round the post. From the resultant corner though the keeper was beaten after United failed to cut out a deep corner and when it was played back to the unmarked Andy Munro who couldn’t believe his luck to fire home from only a couple of yards out.

That however was to be the end of the goals and it was the visitors who came closest to scoring in the latter stages through a Connolly effort that rattled the crossbar and Marley brought off a fine save in the last minute to deny Shankland.