Andrew Shinnie left Livingston in the summer after playing over 130 games for the West Lothian club. A new challenge awaited him at Stenhousemuir, bossed by former Livingston head coach, Marvin Bartley.
The pair worked together to produce a 1-0 victory over their old club and, in the process, take the battling part-time team, nicknamed the Warriors, five points clear at the top of the William Hill Premiership.
Bartley (pictured) and his assistant, Neil Hastings, masterminded the result, which left Livingston with only two wins in their first five league games, and it was 37-year-old Shinnie, only three years younger than his boss, who proved the executioner by slotting the all-important game-winner.
It arrived early in the game after the eager, young visitors won the ball inside the Livi half. It was fed to Shinnie who calmly advanced on goal and slotted past Jerome Prior. How the fans on the far side of the pitch celebrated.
Yes, Livi had four, yes four, penalty claims turned down by match referee, James Wilkie, and one shot cleared off the line, but Stenny dug in despite real pressure from Glenn Whelan’s side which showed six changes from the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Arbroath last weekend.
Whelan conceded that his men have had “an up and down season”. Well, in contrast, Larbert-based Stenhousemuir, who play Hearts in the quarter-final of the Premier Sports Cup at Ochilview on Friday, September 11 (19.45), are flying high.
Bartley, a former Livingston and Hibs player, played down his contribution post-match, heaping praise on his young squad which trains on a Tuesday and Thursday.
He said: “It was a massive performance from the boys all over the park, and it was a fantastic finish. They work so hard.”
Match-winner Shinnie, the Man of the Match, said it was a great feeling and the Aberdeen-born player is happy to use his experience to help the team. He added: “I am really enjoying it, and am giving it my all, but there is a long way to go.”
There sure is. Yes, Stenny rode their luck on occasions, and Bruce Anderson came close on several occasions, particularly with a first-half header which skimmed the right upright.
So did Liam Polworth who spotted Stenny goalkeeper, Darren Jamieson, off his line in the second half. His ambitious lob from around 40 yards just failed to count with the goalkeeper furiously back-pedalling.
Now, Bartley and his merry men move on and Hearts will be uppermost in their minds. They have, remember, put out Motherwell to reach this stage and are on a high. Could another shock be on the cards?
