SHIRE GRIND OUT WIN

Jim McInally accepted his team had been forced to grind out a 2-1 win at Stranraer after a first half performance in which the team threatened to sweep their hosts aside.

Two goals to the good at the interval, the travelling faithful might have expected more in the second period but it was Stranraer who dominated proceedings, scoring once and missing two other glorious opportunities to complete a comeback.

“Sometimes you have to give your opponents credit,” said Jim. “At half-time Keith Knox gave them a roasting and his players responded. We were fortunate not to concede a goal right at the start of the second half and we couldn’t get into the game.

“But that was down to Stranraer changing things and it was disappointing we didn’t seem to be able to respond. That said, we did create some decent chances on the breakaway but couldn’t take any of them. If we had then that would obviously have had an easier time.”

Jim was far happier with the team’s first half display which saw them build a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Andy Rodgers and Jamie Stevenson.

“That was the kind of performance we are trying to get on a more regular basis,” he said. “The one disappointment was we didn’t take more of the chances we created. But we played some great football.

“We couldn’t carry that through into the second half but we have gained three valuable points, our first win here since 1992, so that’s another bogey these players have laid to rest.”

The win keeps Shire up with the pace, just two point behind leaders Livingston, and that is the most important thing as far as the coach is concerned.

“We ground out a result and, I suppose, held on a bit but we got the three points. It doesn’t matter who you are, this is a very difficult place to come and win.

Even when I took full-time Morton teams to Stranraer it was never easy.

“The conditions, with the wind and rain, made things hard too, and the pitch was heavy which led to some tired legs. But we are delighted to be going back up the road with the points.”

The coach was full of praise for the noisy band of Shire supporters who created a great atmosphere at the game.

“They backed the team from start to finish,” he said. “For so many of them to come so far and offer the team nothing but encouragement was great. I reckon they should strike medals for them all.”

Skipper Craig Tully reckoned the team was perhaps guilty of believing the match had been won at half-time.

“Maybe there was a touch of complacency there,” he said. “We certainly found it had to get a hold of the game in the second half and they pushed on to us. But I thought we defended pretty well. There were a few balls going across the face of goal but Jamie Barclay didn’t have a save to make.”

Watch shireTV  interviews with Jim and Craig now by clicking on the shireTV  link and following the on-screen instructions.

A full match report is now available. Click on the fixtures option on the main menu and then on the scoreline to read it.

Highlights of the match are now available on shireTV.