Nigel Blackwell

Seems we set up not to lose yesterday. Since the Clyde game that seems to be the way of it. First half was actually quite entertaining but the 2nd half was really brutal. Amazing save from Jamieson. The shot was actually reminiscent of Adam Brown's the last time we played them here with one obvious difference. The other Jamieson deserved his latest MotM. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the League Player of the Year. Its not usually something a Stenhousemuir player features in. Was the last player to make the shortlist Harry Paton? Anyway, Nicky has got to be in with a shout. I'd imagine Gregor Buchanan might also make the shortlist but I'd like to see Michael Anderson get a mention. Back to the game, Pawlett caused us a lot of problems in the middle, while I thought Aitken had another poor game for us. Looking to next season I think this is where Naysmith really needs to strengthen. As mentioned earlier in the thread, the challenge on Kirkpatrick was horrible. The referee gave a free kick so he saw the challenge but didn't consider a booking at least. It could actually have been a red. It was a nasty challenge leading with his elbow. On to next week...

It would almost clinch it, but if Dumbo and/or Spartans win then they would be 17 behind with 18 points to play for. Had we held out on Saturday against Forfar, then Saturday could have been the day.

Clyde 1-1 Spartans Dumbarton 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose East Fife 2-0 Stranraer Elgin City 1-0 Forfar Athletic Stenhousemuir 1-1 Peterhead

I can understand why Agnew was so angry after the match in his interview. It certainly looked like a foul on Orr, although whether the contact was enough to send him to the turf is questionable. However I would have had a bit more respect for him had he mentioned an equally blatant penalty for Elgin in the first half. News for him…every team is on the receiving end of questionable decisions. Ultimately, either your team is good enough, or it isn’t.

I know it wasn’t a great game, but I did think we actually played some nice football at times mainly in the 1st half. But for me, it was noticeable that in the 2nd half in particular that Forfar resorted to a huge, in most cases, aimless pump up the park, mainly from McCallum. In the end it just became a slug fest with both teams seeing how high they could kick it, until Forfar equalised and we started to play football again which almost brought a winner.

Highlight of the afternoon was Marc McCallum's assessment of Russell McLean. His opinion is consistent with pretty much everyone else. Useless.

Bonnyrigg 0-2 Clyde Forfar 1-0 Stenhousemuir Peterhead 2-1 East Fife Stranraer 0-1 Elgin Spartans 1-2 Dumbarton

Assuming it is East Kilbride they meet in the play off then I don’t want anyone to be relegated

Losing Brett Long was potentially the turning point for Dumbo. Hogarth may become a decent keeper but he is getting exposed pretty much every week at the moment.

FWIW, the earliest is 23rd March against Peterhead. It would have been a week on Saturday i.e. after the Forfar game, but Spartans play Dumbo that day, and they both can't lose.

Results went our way last night - Bonnyrigg penalty in 96 minutes when down to 10 men. We need 4 wins to guarantee the title, assuming Spartans were win 9 in a row. Feels like it is getting close but I am still panicked!

East Fife 1 - 1 Dumbarton Elgin 2 - 0 Bonnyrigg Forfar 1 - 0 Clyde Peterhead 2 - 0 Stranraer Stenhousemuir 1 - 1 Spartans

Bonnyrigg 1 - 1 Stenhousemuir Clyde 2-0 Elgin Dumbarton 0-1 Peterhead Stranraer 1-1 Forfar Spartans 1-1 East Fife

Good result for us at Peterhead last night. We've played two difficult away games now in East Fife and Elgin, two teams who appear to be on the up, so to come away undefeated I think is just another demonstration of the strength within the squad. Back at Ochilview against the bottom team in the league, I would love to see Ross Taylor back in the starting line up.

Why the early KO?

Dumbarton 1 - 0 Stranraer East Fife 2 - 1 Forfar Peterhead 2 - 0 Elgin Stenhousemuir 1 - 0 Clyde Spartans 2 - 0 Bonnyrigg

If the officials had seen the players "gesturing" (whatever that means) to fans then they might have been yellow or red carded, as opposed getting sacked. You're the kitman. You shouldn't be on the pitch squaring up to opposition players and then giving the V sign to the crowd, left right and centre (and let's face it, you shouldn't have been on the pitch in any case). I'd expect you be sacked if you were the Stenhousemuir kitman

Couldn't agree more. Love it

Bonnyrigg Rose 1 East Fife 0 Clyde 2 Dumbarton 1 Elgin City 1 Stenhousemuir 0 Forfar Athletic 0 Peterhead 2 Stranraer 0 The Spartans 0

The Stranraer highlights package is excellent but it is the commentary that is the real delight. The absolute indignation and howls for a red card as their player is tripped on the halfway miles from goal had me in stitches.

It was a pretty horrid spectacle which has been summed up above. Only piece of quality play was the East Fife goal rest of the time, the ball was punted as high as I have ever seen a ball go. Draw was the right result. Was great to have Jamieson back, and I thought Ross Meechan had a really good game covering for Buchanan. And I think I asked this on another match thread, but when did diving stop being a yellow card? Twice Austin went down right under the nose of the referee. And bizarrely, despite it all we extended our lead at the top. It’s a mad world.

Nicky Jamieson for me.

Dumbarton 2 Forfar Athletic 0 East Fife 0 Stenhousemuir 2 Stranraer 0 Clyde 1 The Spartans 1 Elgin City 0

When did goalkeepers stop catching the ball? That would probably have been simpler.

I feel as if that was the result that won us the league today. Really insipid first half with barely a shot at goal. I think we had the best chance when Edin Lynch had a clear chance but just seemed to take a spilt second too long to engage his brain and take a shot. Half time and I'm thinking a point would be a good result. No doubt Dumbo started well and fired Naysmith into making the changes that won the match. Taylor's cameo was fantastic. Was still a nervy climax and Dumbo had a great chance towards the end but the shot really lacked conviction and Jamieson saved easily. We are going to have to go some now not to win the league. It really is a great group of players and you just can't see how they are going to drop enough points for anyone else to win the league.