Derby Day Reflections

There is an unwritten rule which states that, at derby matches, the referee always favours the other side, and must be criticised as such. My own capacity to do so is inhibited by my non-attendance at last Saturday’s clash with the Shire – I was stuck down here in deepest Cambridgeshire as usual – but having watched the highlights online, I will have a go nevertheless. The penalty award seemed to stem from a Shire player being blown over by a freak gust of wind, and whilst that penalty was missed, the free kick which led to the second Shire goal looked similarly dubious. I am, of course, seeking to be provocative here. The decisions do appear dubious on the online highlights, but since the quality of ‘Shire TV’ isn’t the best, I cannot have absolute faith in my judgement. What I can have faith in, though, is the quality of our attacking play. Paul Tyrrell did well to pick out Eddie in the run-up to the first goal, and subsequently finished off a neat move for the second. With a great run and pass, Ross Hamilton started the move which led to his goal, and his return to fitness can only be good news, as anyone who witnessed his performance against East Fife, shortly before his injury last December, would confirm. The crowning glory, though, was surely Ian Harty’s glorious turn and shot for our last-ditch winner. I was interested to see John Coughlin’s interview in the Falkirk Herald last week: he reckons that a successful spell for Stenny could be Harty’s ticket back to a higher division. Rather than joining another club at the end of the season, though, our last-gasp victory means there is still a real chance for Harty to realise that ambition in Stenhousemuir colours. Our feet must remain firmly on the ground, especially now that Arbroath have returned to winning ways, but Harty adds an extra dimension to an already well-equipped Stenny side. Roll on next week!