retired_jessicabraden

Sorry folks for not updating for a while but been busy at work. So will do a quick catch up to sum up my first season.

3 league games remaining and we are to play them all at home. Our first visitors are East Fife and a Robert Downs last minute goal ensures that we obtain play off place. Other goals from Collymore and McBride result in a 3-2 win.

A week later and top of the table Arbroath vist us and leave with all 3 points. A Hugh Davidson goal on 36 minutes condems Stenhousemuir to a defeat. A reasonable crowd of 406 turn up to watch Steve Fallon notch up a man of the match performance despite being on the losing side and also the inability of Lee Collymore and Henry Brown hitting the back of the net for a change.

Our last league match sees Queens Park attend. A Stephen Bonnachie goal 5 minutes from time results in a 2nd loss in 2 weeks for Andy Green. Robert Downs' goal was not enough to earn any points.

The final league position sees us finish in 3rd place.

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The final league table looks like this

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Arbroath | | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 72 | 29 | +43 | 84 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Berwick | | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 57 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Stenhousemuir | | 36 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 55 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Cowdenbeath | | 36 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 60 | 51 | +9 | 53 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Queen's Park | | 36 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 38 | 37 | +1 | 48 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Elgin | | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 38 | 42 | -4 | 42 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Albion Rovers | | 36 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 43 | 51 | -8 | 40 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Montrose | | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 42 | 52 | -10 | 37 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | East Stirling | | 36 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 51 | -22 | 33 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | East Fife | | 36 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 51 | 68 | -17 | 31 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

We face rivals Berwick in the playoffs

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6th May V Berwick Away 1st Leg

Robbie Arthur nets 2 goals for Berwick to give them a 2 goal advantage following this first leg. Stenhousemuir are going through a rough time with this their 3rd defeat on the bounce.

Andy Green will need to motivate his team if he is to acheive anything from the second leg. A grilling season will be wasted if Green cannot obtain a 3 goal winning margin.

Berwick must be favourites to go through to the final.

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Lee Colllymore and Dale Mendum pull 2 goals back within 1/2 hour to cancel Berwicks advantage and make sure the tie is still alive. The game turns exciting when Stenhousemuir have Henderson sent off on 38 minutes.

Berwick are unable to capitalise with the extra man and the match goes to penalties.

Collymore, McBride and Downs net for Stenhousmuir and Berwick fail to convert any. Its Stenhousemuir who surpisingly progress to the final to play Cowdenbeath.

retired_jessicabraden

Final

1,882 people turn up at Hamden Park to watch Cowdenbeath play Stenhousemuir. The last 20 minutes was the most exciting witnessed all season with Dene Shiels netting the opening goal for Cowdenbeath.

McBride equalises immediately for Stenhousemuir.

With extra time looming, Buchanan nets a killer goal for Cowdenbeath and its Cowdenbeath who earn promotion despite finishing lower in the table.

Stenhousemuir will be wondering where this leaves them having obtained greater possession but its goals that count.

Andy Green comments after the match "I am dissapointed who wouldn't be in my shoes. We have played well all season and to lose at the final hurdle is hurtful and a big dissapointment at least next season we can build on our success and go one better. Anything less than promotion next year is a poor performance"

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I get called into the board office. Look Andy we're sorry but theres no transfer funds again. We just can't balance the books, you need to help us we can't keep going on like this.

"I'll help you, but if you want success you have to pay for it, the youngsters will have to play but there not world beaters."

"We have a new sponsership deal with Mothercare"

"Mothercare thats appropriate aint it, the team will be full of kids as we can't afford experienced players. I want success at this club and I will have to sell my decent players to bring new ones in."

"I'm sorry Andy but the crowds are not coming and the wage bill is to high, money doesn't grow in trees"

I get up "thanks for the good news guys looks like I've got a bit of planning to do before the new season"

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Brown named Player of the Season

The fans of Stenhousemuir voted striker Henry Brown as their player of the season.

Brown joined from Dundee at the start of the season and has notched up 19 goals in 29 games, obtaining 5 man of the match awards in the proces.

Brown is apparently surprised with this reward and will hopefully be able to build on last seasons dissappointment and obtain promotion this term.

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McGregor moves to Stirling

Stenhousemuir centreback Steven McGregor leaves the club on a free transfer and is immediately snapped up by 2nd Division Stirling.

McGregor made 10 appearances last season and will be looking to obtain a more permanent first team place with his new club.

retired_jessicabraden

Green Signs 2 new players

Lee Sharp and Simon McManus join Stenhousemuir on free transfers. The fans are optimistic about these new signings and feel that they can offer very little support to the current crop of players.

Sharp has more experience and will have more chance in the first team rather than McManus who joins from AFC Wimbledon.

The 18 year old is excited about his move to Scotland and will be hoping to break into the first team sometime during the latest campaign.

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After a promising season last year just missing out on promotion, I thought that this season would be our year. I mixed it up a bit in the friendlies and it showed as we crashed to defeat in all our matches.

Our first competitive match was a cup match away from home against higher league opposition with first division Hamilton.

This was going to be a real test and would give me an idea how we had progressed. We eventually lose 1-0 but its a good performance. I couldn't moan about anything, we showed grit and real determination with Robbie Henderson picking up the man of the match award.

I still think we can do it. Next up an away trip to relegated Alloa.