STENNY SIX-POINTER

If ever there was one, this is the proverbial six-pointer and a game that will go a long way to decide who gets automatic promotion to the Championship come five o'clock on the 2nd of May. If not entirely a must win game, it's definitely a must not lose encounter. We still have the postponed fixture against Peterhead away to contend with and at this stage of the season and with our campaign agonisingly unravelling in a tortuous manner, there are no guarantees that three points at Balmoor is a given. Ahead of this game, it's still in our own hands, a defeat removes that option.

Danny Devine missed the KDM Final through injury and although Chanka Zimba played in it, was on the park, he is suspended for this crucial League1 clash. A number of our players never turned up for the Final, some say they haven't arrived yet, but here's hoping they get that no show out of their system pretty quick. It's not up to me, but surely we need more grit and determination in midfield and we don't get that from Chalmers. What does Calum MacLeod and Ben Brannan need to do to get a game? Does Liam Sole not realise he needs to get his finger out and deliver the goods he often promises? Alfie Bavidge is a striker. Play him as one. Time to play our best XI from the start. If that means getting more out of David Wotherspoon then so be it. Is it time to roll back the years and get Billy Mckay on the park as well, although he was not in the squad at Firhill? Plenty of questions for Scott Kellacher to ponder, let's hope he has all the answers because defeat here could signal another season in the doldrums.

🦀 Sideways football, it's not for everyone 🦀

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Info

📺 LIVE on BBC Alba 📺

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Inverness CT 58pts	THE RUN IN	Stenhousemuir 60pts
STENNY v ICTFC - 📺	11th April @17:30	STENNY v ICTFC - 📺
Peterhead v ICTFC - 📺	14th April @19:45	STENNY - No ⛔ Game
ICTFC v Kelty Hearts	18th April @15:00	Cove v STENNY
East Fife v ICTFC	25th April @15:00	STENNY v Alloa
ICTFC v Accies	2nd May @15:00	Montrose v STENNY

With our season imploding somewhat, we never turned up for the KDM Trophy Final against Raith Rovers who deservedly took the win last Sunday 4-1.

• Last Six League1:

• D W D W D D

A disappointing no scoring draw at Kelty where we struggled to create enough clear chances and allowed the pack to close in again before a 3-1 home win over Montrose. With Stenny drawing and Alloa losing in midweek, we had a smidgeon of breathing space going into the home game against Cove but that was taken away by a goalkeeper. Balint Demus headed in an equaliser because we failed to put the game to bed when on top. A common theme throughout the season and one which Stenhousemuir took full advantage of by snatching a last minute winner. We bounced back in midweek with a good 3-1 home win over Peterhead with as bizarre an 'offside' goal as you will see gifting the Head their consolation. Zimba x2 & Alonge were our scorers in that one, three going on six. Zimba was Hero to Zero at Alloa scoring the equaliser before being sent off ten minutes later with the game ending at 1-1 and our last League1 game was a poor 1-1 draw under the lights v QotS where Ross Millen followed up on his saved penalty to bundle home and earn us a point. Onto the the KDM final and the only bright spark for us was Alfie Stewart's superb free kick. Alas we gave our opponents too much respect and too many opportunities to take the ball from us and for that we suffered badly.

Scott Kellacher with the copy & paste pre-match. A few struggling after last weekend. No specific players named so that should open up the tombola selection. Just a thought here. Is our squad too big for League1 and is that why we have this selection out of the hat rotation? With 22 or 23 to pick from that brings it's own headaches. If a club only has say 15 quality players then barring injuries and suspensions, there's your players for a more settled and consistent first choice. To be honest, I don't envy Kellacher's job, however it's time for the top XI to start at Ochilview.

Stenhousemuir's relentless drive for promotion continued last Saturday with a confident 3-0 win over Hamilton Accies with goals from Dunfermline's on loan Ritchie-Hosler, Ross Taylor and Greg Buchanan.

• Last Six League1:

• W D W W D W

They have been churning out results all season and have taken 14 points from their last six League1 fixtures, a run that has taken them two points clear of the Caley Jags who are hell bent on drawing their way into the Championship with their over cautious approach. It all started with a 1-0 win at Accies thanks to Olly Whyte's goal on the hour. A 1-1 draw followed at QotS where Nicky Jamieson's first half goal was cancelled out on the hour by Guthrie. Ross Taylor was the match winner at Peterhead with a last minute strike and he scored the opener in the next game against Kelty Hearts with Matty Aitken adding a late second in a 2-0 win. A surprising 2-2 draw with a battling East Fife after goals from Buchanan and Anderson had them cruising for all three points. The Fifers turned it round with two goals in a minute, the first from Nathan Austin baby. Last time out they scored an emphatic 3-0 win over Accies with Ritchie-Hosler, Ross Taylor and Greg Buchanan wrapping up the points which put them two ahead of the Caley Jags who will have a catch-up game to come against Peterhead next Tuesday.

🏆 Gary Naysmith has been named Glen’s League 1 Manager of the Month for March 2026. Can't argue with that given the unbeaten run the Warriors are on.

• Ross Taylor had to come off injured against Accies or was that just a precaution. Has an eye for a goal out of nothing.

• Ritchie-Hosler on loan from Dunfermline has given Stenny an extra dimension.

• Olly Whyte and Matty Aitken are big threats in front of goal.

• At the back Nicky Jamieson and Greg Buchanan are as solid as a rock.

• 🏟️ Ochilview Park

• 🏆 William Hill League One

• 📅 Saturday 11 April

• 🕑 17:30

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Stenny	32	22	60
2	ICTFC	31	32	58
3	Alloa	32	15	50
4	QueenS	32	6	46
5	P'Head	31	-9	42
6	Monty	32	-13	41
7	Cove	32	-5	31
8	E Fife	32	-26	31
9	Accies	32	8	25
10	Kelty	32	-30	23

Great first half, took Stenny by surprise with our shape and tactics I think. Deservedly 1 up at HT. They changed things and had the better of the 2nd half and an equaliser was looking increasingly likely as the game went on but is was a bit of a sickener when it came, because that was never a penalty. Shocking decision.

After that we were side the clinging on for a draw, which I guess was a fair result overall but we are the ones going home disappointed and angry.

1 minute ago, Huisdean said:

If you can see how that penalty was given, your a better man than me. Even watching on TV, it didn't look like the Stenny player was anywhere near the ball. Given there was a blatant push on Sole near the end when he was possibly breaking clear just highlights how inconsistent the ref was.

For me, the way the ref handled the whole game, when Devine dives in like that I knew the ref would give it. I do think Devine is just trying to make himself big to block the ball and tbh if it happened the other end I'd be screaming for it.

Ref was happy to card us on first offenses it felt while Aikten definitely got away with 3-4 fouls before the card and then another couple before the pen.

3 minutes ago, Huisdean said:

If you can see how that penalty was given, your a better man than me. Even watching on TV, it didn't look like the Stenny player was anywhere near the ball. Given there was a blatant push on Sole near the end when he was possibly breaking clear just highlights how inconsistent the ref was.

The ball was almost off the pitch before the Stenny player went down - not deliberately, I should say. There is no way he or any other Stenny player could have caught it.

And Sole was off the pitch after he was pushed.

Referee was abysmal.

But... we should have killed that game off with more goals long before the penalty.

Disappointing, We had the better of the first half, but were second best after the break, although the penalty decision was a joke. Thought the overall standard of football was fairly poor, with little decent passing. Too much just punting the ball upfield. Maybe the wind and pitch contributed to that.

Definitely need a win on Tuesday night now. You can do it lads. Onwards and upwards.

Not a penalty for me. Anderson falls over a man lying face down on the ground. In fact, looks like he deliberately left his leg/foot right in there to win the spot-kick.

It's called cheating.

WTAF

Must win now at Peterhead. It's still in our own shaky hands...

Pos.		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Stenhousemuir	33	16	13	4	47	25	22	61
2	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	32	18	10	4	54	22	32	59 *
3	Alloa Athletic	33	14	8	11	47	33	14	50
4	Queen of the South	33	13	10	10	51	43	8	49
5	Peterhead	32	12	6	14	46	56	-10	42
6	Montrose	33	11	8	14	46	61	-15	41
7	East Fife	33	9	7	17	33	58	-25	34
8	Cove Rangers	33	7	10	16	37	44	-7	31
9	Hamilton Academical	33	14	7	12	48	39	9	28 *
10	Kelty Hearts	33	5	11	17	31	59	-28	26

4 hours ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Bear in mind that I've only really seen Millen in the last two televised games. Now maybe I have missed defensive errors, but in both games I certainly saw him getting forward and putting balls into the box. Maybe not the best crosses, but more than most of the others do.

At the risk of starting an avalanche, why does everyone seem to downrate him? Keep it short, please

Absolu

1 hour ago, tm4tj said:

Not a penalty for me. Anderson falls over a man lying face down on the ground. In fact, looks like he deliberately left his leg/foot right in there to win the spot-kick.

It's called cheating.

WTAF

Must win now at Peterhead. It's still in our own shaky hands...

Absolutely gutted for the players who gave everything today. I agree that pen was gained by cheating. Ref started flashing the cards at 7 mins and just carried on. Why was a game of this magnitude not given a proper ref?

The walk back to the station was like a warzone with little neds with masks running riot and a missile being thrown at one of our buses. Never thought Id feel unsafe in L1 tbh. Fair play to the large police presence for trying to keep a lid on it.

Feel a tad deflated. Just feel momentum not on our side but never wanted to win something so badly as this league title tbh

Had a little time to reflect on the game which I watched on Alba. Well on top on the first half and really should have been out of sight by the HT whistle. Stenny changed tack in the second and became more of a threat. Softest pen you will probably ever see and you can guarantee that if it was us it wouldn't have been given. Penalty taken by a guy who shouldn't have been on the pitch after bullying Savage and Stewart all game. Gutted for the lads who really bounced back after last week. It's still in our hands though so hopefully we can all hold our nerve. As for that ref...wow...what a numpty, no doubt he will talk about his performance when he goes back to school on Monday morning.

It was a hell of a game, and Caley (Kellacher) got the tactics right with less tippy tappy sideways stuff, given the surface and opposition

We were great for 60mins. Bavidge outstanding, and excellent displays from everyone, except maybe Alonge was less effective than I have seen previously. Not playing Sole or Longstaff initially was probably the right thing to do. I did ponder the lack of substitutes as players tired, I guess Scott was wary of breaking up the formation, but felt Mackinnon, Longstaff and Brannan were possibilities

That we were under pressure towards the end is no surprise, but the penalty decision was poor

Overall, for me this was a 'not lose' game, with the win being a bonus, since we have that game in hand. It will of course be nip & tuck to the end. We have to win on Tuesday of course, but Kelty are also an obstacle.

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Eagle4Caley

15 hours ago, Huisdean said:

If you can see how that penalty was given, your a better man than me. Even watching on TV, it didn't look like the Stenny player was anywhere near the ball. Given there was a blatant push on Sole near the end when he was possibly breaking clear just highlights how inconsistent the ref was.

Don't get me wrong I was berating the ref with everyone else at the game.

There is a bit of talk about the stenny player not being near the ball for the penalty, on tv commentary also. That doesn't matter. It was clumsy by devine watching it back this morning.

Not to be too boring, I was at RC v Rangers a few years back. Ball into rangers box, cleared and rangers quickly breaking up field and into county box. That left lorenzo amaruso ( spelling) and rc forward arguing in box at other end of park. The big guy had enough decked rc player with a right hook to the jaw. Ref was alerted ran the length of the field sent amaruso off and awarded county a penalty. Ball couldn’t have been further away from the incident.

Ps.. I would have sent off stenny no 9 for the push on Savage into the tv scaffolding that was about a yard off the pitch. Dangerous.

23 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

There is a bit of talk about the stenny player not being near the ball for the penalty, on tv commentary also. That doesn't matter.

In the case which you cite, or in a case of a deliberate foul, then of course you are right.

But in the match last night, I don't think that Devine intended to foul anyone. The ball was well away, and a mature ref might have used their discretion and ignored it. But I suppose they're not allowed to do that nowadays...

My first impression of last night's ref was that he looked as though he was still at school - as did the 4th official - and his refereeing did nothing to dispel that notion.

It used to be policemen - but nowadays you know you're getting old when the referees look too young

A fellow supporter watching the game sent me a message at the start saying that the referee looked like he was just out of school 🤣 he might have left school early!

Still Raging..... He was just out of school.....Play School

For me the objective of the match was not to loose, so from that position it’s mission achieved. This leaves us in the position of controlling the remaining games confident that if we win them all we will IMO be champs.

You can argue we were the better team yesterday (we were) and consider it two points dropped. Questions about the referee and his decision to award a penalty are neither here or there (he awarded it and they scored - I heard little complaint against the ref awarding a free kick against Alonge last week against Raith (led up to the equaliser) when Alonge fell over his own feet).

The match was not one for the purists as the ball was battered about and spent a good spell of time in the air.

I was pleased to see Danny and Spoony on the park from the outset. The whole team looked far more balanced and not frightened to take the game to Stenny.

As I say we remain in the driving seat. It’s up to the players to have the courage to remain there.

bc

Edited April 12Apr 12 by big cherly

If you’re good enough, you are old enough. Unfortunately he wasn’t good enough at a key moment. He was maybe a bit distracted at the time, worrying about his Higher Geography exam in a couple of weeks.

4 hours ago, IBM said:

A fellow supporter watching the game sent me a message at the start saying that the referee looked like he was just out of school 🤣 he might have left school early!

Cameron Stirling is a Scottish referee who was approximately 21 years old as of early 2024, having started his senior refereeing journey at age 17.

I know how he feels. I get the same flack.

Entered a golf open at old torvean when I was 60. Trotted up to pay my entry fee and was asked what can I do for you by the lady taking the fee. I am here to play the senior open I said. No you are not she said, you have to be 55 and over to play.

Me and cameron just can't help it.

Won't mention the time at torvean again on the practice putting green a women came out of the clubhouse and asked was I daniel o' donnell who might have been playing Eden court at the time. 😁

32 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

Entered a golf open at old torvean when I was 60. Trotted up to pay my entry fee and was asked what can I do for you by the lady taking the fee. I am here to play the senior open I said. No you are not she said, you have to be 55 and over to play.

The other way round, my Mum was a member at Culcabock, and it always amused her how many ladies refused to enter the senior competitions and thus admit their ages. Despite very many of them having known each other since their schooldays...

Now back on topic...

I’ve only managed to watch it now.

That penalty decision was a shocker and we may come to rue the loss of two points last night, but that’s football!

However, let’s put it behind us and go again on Tuesday.

Win that and we are top.

It’s still in our own hands, let’s grab the opportunity!

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Robert

3 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

Won't mention the time at torvean again on the practice putting green a women came out of the clubhouse and asked was I daniel o' donnell who might have been playing Eden court at the time. 😁

As long as you can't sing like him, you'll be fine

I wonder if Kel reads this forum lol because even he admitted that he maybe should have used subs a bit earlier 😱😱.

All well and good mentioning it after the game though 🙄, hopefully lessons learnt there then sir!

Oh and he was raging about the decision, I could tell by the way he stormed over to the Alba interview that he was furious! I was too, let's hope it doesn't cost us the title 😡😡😡.

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

let's hope it doesn't cost us the title 😡😡😡.

Our continued failure to take our chances when on top across a significant number of our games will be the reason rather than a single officiating error. We need to be clinical in the remaining games and it is in our hands to come top.

15 hours ago, Robert said:

That penalty decision was a shocker

I don't like banging on about this, because of course we should have had the game sewn up long before that.

However, this was a top of the table clash, very near to the end of the season, likely to have a lot of influence on the title, on promotion, and even on some people's livelihoods. Add in the very strong likelihood of controversial moments, and what was obviously called for was an experienced, mature referee, who could control the game, hopefully gain the respect of the players, and make sensible decisions.

Instead we got a 23 or 24 year old kid, from Linlithgow, a few miles down the road from Stenny. A "local legend" according to the Falkirk Herald.

Beyond a joke!

2 hours ago, Tree said:

Our continued failure to take our chances when on top across a significant number of our games will be the reason rather than a single officiating error. We need to be clinical in the remaining games and it is in our hands to come top.

This ⬆️

However, what gets me, given the circumstances, is that it was a crucial decision at a crucial stage of the season and so far nobody is accountable. Are the governing body going to concur with the referee or are they going to do anything about this.

Of course not, they will back the man they trusted to do the job. Apart from the trolls, it's looks reasonable to suggest that there was an error made.

Maybe they can tell us why the spot kick was given? Would that ease the pain.

1 hour ago, tm4tj said:

Maybe they can tell us why the spot kick was given? Would that ease the pain.

I assume that referees still complete a match report which goes to the authorities and to the teams? Would cover misconduct, and, since Devine was booked, would tell us why the penalty was awarded.

3 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Maybe they can tell us why the spot kick was given? Would that ease the pain.

Well you then enter into the never ending diatribe by the fans that feel they have been cheated, robbed, discriminated against or any source of outrage that takes hold of them. Trump and his ‘cheated out of my presidency’ syndrome is stuck on Play-Repeat!!

Will we be as magnanimous if we get a similar type decision call from the ref on Tuesday in our favour where we end up with one goal victory?

It’s only a game’

bc

Edited April 13Apr 13 by big cherly