Stenny put boot into Gable Endies – again

STENHOUSEMUIR 1 MONTROSE 0

Stenhousemuir beat Montrose at Ochilview for the second time this season.

Stewart Petrie’s men – fresh off the back of a 5-2 derby win over Brechin – were left frustrated by a Stenny side who moved off the bottom of the league thanks to Dumbarton being inactive.

Petrie felt his side’s display was “disappointing.”

He said: “It always looked as if one goal would win it and Stenny got it.

“Fair play to them – they defended well from there, it was just one of these days.

“Our passing wasn’t as quick (as usual) and we were a bit flat.

“We won’t get too hung up about it though.

“We will be back in tomorrow and work for Saturday.”

This was the Warriors’ second win in a row, and they had former St Johnstone attacker Greg Hurst to thank after he drilled the ball past Allan Fleming to secure all three points.

At a windswept Ochilview, chances for both teams were few and far between, though during the first half a series of Montrose corners resulted in a Graham Webster effort being headed off the line by Mark McGuigan.

The visitors will have felt that they should have taken the lead just after the start of the second half but striker Russell McLean – starting for the first time since his deadline day transfer from Peterhead – was thwarted twice by Stenny keeper Graeme Smith, who brought off a couple of fine saves.

The home side were unlucky not to increase their lead in the 70th minute when a McGuigan header struck the crossbar.

For most of the closing stages, though, the Gable Endies had the bulk of the play but they were denied by a resolute home defence.

There was a palpable sense of relief for Stenhousemuir when, after almost five minutes of stoppage-time, the final whistle was blown.