A Warriors Night
Friday 3rd September 2010
The biggest shock of the 2010/11 Scottish football season so far came at a ground that is well known for upsets with First Division Dundee joining St. Johnstone and Aberdeen as teams that have left Ochilview Park in Larbert after being knocked out of a cup competition. Whilst the Saints and the Dons both suffered Scottish Cup exits during the 1990s, the Dark Blues were despatched home on the end of a 4-1 ALBA Challenge Cup defeat just over three weeks ago.
For Stenhousemuir Manager, John Coughlin, it was the best he had seen his side play. However, there was no champagne flowing in the changing room afterwards as the Warriors got their feet on the ground again and a tricky tie awaits Stenhousemuir this Sunday as they travel north to face Peterhead.
However, Coughlin was happy to look back and not forward saying, “I would think that the Dundee game was the best Stenhousemuir have played in a good while and certainly the best since I came here three years ago.
“We deserved to win and to do so against a team of Dundee’s standing made it all the sweeter.”
A more laid back approach worked with Coughlin adding, “We went into the game relaxed as we were the underdogs.
“I told the players to relax and enjoy the game and that is not something I say very often. Everything fell into place during the night and it was a great game.”
Coughlin talked through the action saying, “Alex Williams gave us a great start with a goal in nine minutes that went in off the underside of the bar.
“To be fair, that was not really a surprise as he has been doing that all season. When you consider he did not carry out a full pre-season, he is doing really well as he is really sharp.
“He is such a confident character that he thinks that he will always score and so far so good.”
Another new favourite announced his arrival with Coughlin commenting, “Grant Anderson grabbed the second goal seven minutes later with a low shot from the edge of the box.
“Grant has been a major bonus for us this season and he is a real find. He came from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and whilst it is unlikely that Dundee had heard of him before the game, they knew all about him afterwards.
“Other clubs in the Second and Third Divisions were interested in Grant during the summer however, we knew him already as he had played a couple of games for us as a trialist last season.
“It was all about doing our business properly with his club and Grant afterwards to bring him here.”
Anderson looks set to feature regularly with Coughlin saying, “He has the promise to go further in the game and hopefully, we are not getting too reliant on him. Although one point from our last three games when he has been away on holiday seems to indicate that he is a really big player for Stenhousemuir already.”
Striker Scott Dalziel was another who impressed that night with his Manager advising, “They all played well however, I thought Scott had his best game ever in a Stenhousemuir side that night. He never gave their defenders a moment’s peace.”
Both sides had chances up until half-time with Coughlin honest enough to recognise that his side got a break with Leigh Griffiths leaving his shooting boots at home in the first half.
He said, “Leigh was tremendous on the night and his overall play was first class but he missed a couple of opportunities that allowed us to get to half-time two up.”
Substitute Paul Quinn rifled in a third in 63 minutes with the Warriors boss delighted for the former St. Mirren player saying, “Paul’s goal was one of great quality. Grant headed the ball on and Paul let it bounce once before cracking in a first time shot. As soon as he hit it you knew it was in.”
Coughlin was delighted for the player, who he brought in last season, adding, “Paul deserved the goal as he has worked incredibly hard since he came here from Paisley.
“The story goes that he told the other substitutes during the first half that he had noticed that Dundee goalkeeper Scott Fox was off his line and said he was going to shoot from long distance if he got on. It is great he spotted that and then had the confidence to pull it off.”
Griffiths did pull a goal back with 16 minutes left when he sent a shot from 19 yards high into the top corner that even Coughlin admired.
The Ochilview Manager said, “It was only a matter of time before he scored and the one he did score was sensational.
“Even though it was 3-1 with a short time left, you do get a few negative thoughts entering your head.
“Time was running down but I was pleased to see Kevin Motion play a one-two and score a fourth just before the end.
“That calmed my nerves but it excited our fans to a level I had never seen before in the Main Stand. They were understandably delighted and it took great restraint to stop themselves joining the players on the pitch celebrating.”
Despite their defeat, the Dens Park managerial pair of Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds proved their class afterwards.
Coughlin said, “Some Managers may have looked to make excuses about the synthetic pitch or something else but Gordon and Billy made no excuses and recognised that we had played well.”
There were no wild celebrations afterwards with Coughlin going home for a cup of tea and ginger snap biscuits with his thoughts quickly turning to his side’s next game.
He advised, “I was starting to get a headache as I was trying to work my team out for a hugely important game at Brechin on the Saturday. I had too many players that I wanted to play.
“The ALBA Challenge Cup win was a massive bonus but we had to get our feet back on the ground.”
“We got the boys back for training on the Thursday night and of course, we talked about the Dundee game. Everyone was flying but we managed to get a point at Glebe Park on the Saturday.”
It is Peterhead next in the knock-out tournament with Coughlin saying, “We would have fancied anyone at our place so being away from home makes it a real tricky affair.
“If we hit the heights that we did against Dundee, I will be more than delighted.”
Match Photos (c) www.davidyoungphoto.co.uk