SPFL 2: Share of the spoils in Stenhousemuir stalemate

Posted on Sunday, March 10th, 2024

It was a share of the spoils at Ochilview where Spartans and Stenhousemuir played out a stalemate in this top of the table SPFL 2 clash.

Douglas Samuel made three changes to the team that faced Bonnyrigg Rose on Tuesday night, including Jamie Dishington who returned following becoming a father for the first time earlier in the week.

The game was merely a minute old before Cammy Russell felt the force of Nat Wedderburn’s mountaineering up his back offering the first infringement of the afternoon.

An early opportunity for the tourists saw Blair Henderson head a Cammy Russell in-swinging corner narrowly over the bar as the talismanic striker sought to add to his 100^th SPFL in midweek.

Stenhousemuir, who had won the previous three encounters between the sides, were next to threaten.  A cross into the Spartans box saw Matty Aitken tumble to the ground during a challenge from Rhys Armstrong but any appeals for a penalty were quickly brushed aside.

Cammy Russell’s effort shortly after was deflected wide with the goalkeeper stranded and from the resultant corner, Ayrton Sonkur’s shot was cleared on the line by some part of the Stenny man on the post’s person.

HT: Stenhousemuir 0-0 The Spartans

Darren Jamieson between the Stenny sticks was tested after the break when Rhys Armstrong’s cross was met by Cammy Russell who got his foot round the ball and sent a powerful shot down the throat of the keeper.

With more appeals than seen at Camelon Sheriff Court last week, Stenhousemuir were once again aggrieved at another non-award of a spot-kick, this time when Mikey Anderson went down in the box whilst being the meat in a Spartans defensive sandwich.

Spartans made a double change midway through the half when Bradley Whyte and Marc McNulty were replaced by Danny Denholm and Sam Jones.

It was almost the ideal introduction from Danny Denholm who latched on the ball, edge away from Gregor Buchanan on the initial footrace before recovering to do enough to send the ball behind for a corner.

Mikey Anderson then charged down a Blair Carswell clearance but thankfully th.e deflection saw the ball whizz away behind out of harms way

Sam Jones then cut inside before unleashing an impressive effort from a quick turn and shot that just cleared the bar.

The hosts were then frustrated once again when a long-range attempt was caught in the wind and it looked at first glance that Blair Carswell had fisted the ball over the bar however the outcome was, thankfully, a goal kick.

Josh Laing entered the fray as the game edged towards its conclusion, swapping spots with Rhys Armstrong.

There was a heart in mouth moment when the hosts launched one final attempt to break a resolute Spartans defence only for Nat Wedderburn to fire over the bar from close range.

FT: Stenhousemuir 0-0 The Spartans