Stenhousemuir 0 - 0 Stranraer: It's all to do again after stalemate at Ochilview

Published on Tuesday 18 January 2011 17:41

STENHOUSEMUIR and Stranraer will have to replay at Stair Park to see who hosts Motherwell in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after this goal-less tie.

Third Division leaders Stranraer, now unbeaten in 11 games under Keith Knox stretching to early October, drew on all their recent qualities to keep the Warriors at bay. The Second Division strugglers were totally dominant, creating a host of chances in a frenetic start. Grant Anderson's whistling drive over set the tone after 90 seconds, before a hat-trick of corners in a one-minute burst from ex-Kilmarnock midfielder Stevie Murray caused chaos in the visiting ranks.

Ross Clark, Gary Thom and Scott Dalziel all went close as Stranraer somehow survived.

As the home side's pressure continued, Alex Williams next raced clear on the artificial surface but was denied by a fine save from David Mitchell. From the resultant corner, Murray whipped over another centre and Thom headed just over.

Stranraer were all at sea, but they refused to be swept away and instead gained a foothold in the contest. Only a magnificent clawing stop from Chris McCluskey kept out Danny Mitchell's strike before more heroics from the home custodian prevented Paul Murphy's header from breaking the deadlock.

Murray, almost found the target nine minutes after the interval, guiding a typical curling effort just wide of the far post. At the other end, Armand One looked set to net but for a superb clearance from home skipper Thom.

It became a see-saw tussle, with Williams' fizzing 25-yarder shortly after the hour flying inches past before the imposing One, the focal point of the Blues' attacks, nodded over.

Stranraer's Craig Malcolm was almost the last-minute hero as his effort drifted just too high.

Stenhousemuir: McCluskey, Lyle, Dickson, Thom, Smith, Thomson, Anderson, Clark, Williams, Dalziel, Murray. Subs: Brown, Motion, Quinn, Scuillion, Plenderleith.

Stranraer: David Mitchell, Gallagher, Sharp, Murphy, McAuliffe, Agnew, One, Daniel Mitchell, Malcolm, Winter, Noble. Subs: Marshall, Moore, McColm, Glen Mitchell, Cochrane.