ONE hurdle has been crossed for Stenhousemuir and the finishing line is in sight.
The Warriors had a Hampden hero in Jamie McCormack last night but it is at Ochilview this weekend where their League One fate will be determined.
Brown Ferguson's side will head into the second leg of their play-off final with Queen's Park with a narrow advantage thanks to this 1-0 win at the National Stadium. It was a competitive, entertaining affair settled by a solitary goal eleven minutes after the break, McCormack's intervention a potentially priceless one for the Warriors.
It may have taken until the second half for the Hampden scoreboards to tick over but there were plenty of chances in an end-to-end opening period as both teams looked to get the decisive opening goal.
Shaun Fraser was first to try his luck with a low free-kick after just eight minutes but it was the visitors who should have taken the lead, Ross Meechan fluffing his lines after he burst from midfield and into the area.
It was the start of a more assertive period for the Warriors that saw Colin McMenamin come close with a header and low strike, but only after Paul McMullan almost scored one of the most spectacular goals Hampden has seen for some time as William Muir tipped away an audacious effort from just inside the Spiders half.
The on loan Celtic winger was impressive in the wide areas for the Warriors and he should have done better after a mazy run took him to within shooting distance. He soon made an impact in the final third as his free-kick was nodded home by McCormack to give Stenhousemuir the lead.
It was a blow for Queens in terms of the match and the tie but it was not a fatal one and they soon went about trying to heal the wounds, John Carter denied by keeper Greg Fleming at close range.
The sustained pressure and a succession of near misses brought anxious gasps from the Queens contingent amongst the 811 crowd inside the Hampden but the cheer to celebrate a goal never materialised.
It was the Warriors fans who were on the feet and had their head in their hands before the night was over, Ross McMillan heading a McMullan free-kick off the post as Stenny came within inches of doubling their lead.
With seconds to go, Paul Woods saw his effort from the edge of the area go narrowly wide of Fleming's goal.
Only time will tell how costly the late missed chances at both ends of the park will be.
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