Stenhousemuir remain two points clear at the top of Scottish League One after their top of the table clash with their visitors Inverness ended level.
The magnitude of the game was apparent for both sides as over one thousand people crammed into Ochilview, and the occasion appeared to get to the hosts early on. Inverness started on the front foot and after 15 minutes they broke the deadlock. A dangerous delivery from a set piece forced a scramble in the box and after Stenhousemuir goalkeeper Darren Jamieson failed to hold onto the ball, Calum MacLeod fired home from close range to give the visitors the crucial first goal.
A scrappy first half followed with the only clear-cut chance coming for Stenhousemuir’s Ross Taylor, who raced onto a Matty Aitken flick on to go one on one with the goalkeeper, but his weak effort was easily claimed by Ross Munro.
The half time message from Inverness manager Scott Kellacher was clearly for his side to get the all-important second goal, and they very nearly did. Not long after David Wetherspoon’s long-range effort was saved within the first couple of minutes of the second half, Jordan Alonge tried an audacious outside of the foot attempt from 25 yards, which was tipped over the crossbar by Darren Jamieson. Alfie Bavidge was the next to miss just before the hour mark, his shot being saved well once again by Jamieson after being slipped through on goal.
The hosts survived the storm though and began to turn the screw. Ross Taylor once again found himself in on goal, this time played through by half-time substitute Euan O’Reilly, yet he couldn’t find a way past Munro in the Inverness goal.
Eventually, Stenhousemuir’s pressure paid off, despite being shrouded in controversy. With the hosts loading the box with bodies at a set piece, the ball was sent across the box, and after a tangle of legs between multiple players, the referee pointed to the spot for a Stenhousemuir penalty. Striker Matty Aitken waited patiently for Inverness protests to cool down before he could take his spot kick, and he made no mistake, with Munro diving the right way but beaten by power. Both sides had half chances in the closing minutes, but the game ended level without any late drama.
The draw suits the visitors more, with the title remaining in Inverness’ hands. They now know that if they win their final four fixtures, they will win the league regardless of what Stenhousemuir do. That final stretch begins with a trip to Peterhead on Tuesday night, who themselves will be desperate to pick up points as they chase the final playoff spot.
Stenhousemuir will see this game as a big opportunity missed, and if their hands aren’t round that league trophy come May this might be seen as the game that cost them dearly. Without playing poorly, the feeling certainly is that they have definitely played a lot better this season, and the nervy beginning didn’t help them either, culminating in the early Inverness goal. With that being said, if you offered them a neck-and-neck title race with three games to go in August, they would have bitten your hand off. With just three games left, beginning with a trip to Cove Rangers next Saturday, a flawless run in will undoubtedly give Stenhousemuir and their players more than a chance of etching themselves into the history books of the football club forever.
