Game of two halves for Stenhousemuir in victory over Brechin

Callum Tapping skips past Brechin's Dave McKay (Photographer: Scott Louden)

Stenny were two goals to the good at half time thanks to goals from Andy Munro and Mark McGuigan but a below-par second half performance saw the visitors pull a goal back through a Trialist.

Nevertheless, it proved to be a welcome three points for the home side after two league defeats on the bounce against Queen’s Park and Annan Athletic and manager Davie Irons says he was pleased with his side’s overall display.

“I’m really pleased to have got the victory,” he said, “I think you probably saw both sides of Stenny in the one match – really good in the first half, a bit slack and casual in the second.

“There were some really good aspects to our play, although the second half was a bit less pleasing.

"We had a lot of opportunities in the first half. I think if we had got the third it could have been a comfortable win, but credit to Brechin.

"They regrouped at half time, got a response and when they did score the momentum swung slightly in their favour.

“That put us under a wee bit of pressure in terms of finishing the game and getting the points. We’ve been a bit susceptible to losing late goals and that was the last thing we wanted on Saturday.

"But we saw it through and the most important thing is we got the win after a couple of back-to-back defeats in the league.”

Irons’ men stay at home for a second Saturday this weekend when they welcome Stranraer in the league, with both sides evenly matched on 11 points after seven games played.

He said: “Stranraer have come down from League One and they have a bit of experience in their side.

"I think they’ve been relatively consistent over their last four or five games, so it will be a difficult game.

"I know it sounds like an old cliche but there are never easy games at any level of football, and this one is no different. Stranraer know what they are all about.

“They are well organised with experience but it’s nothing that we are scared of.

"I’m not scared of any team in this league but we will have to be better than we were at the weekend to take something from it.”