Stenhousemuir now sit five points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship after last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Arbroath made it six sensational wins on the spin for the newly-promoted Warriors.

Midfielder Lewis O’Donnell, who won last month’s league player of the month award, netted his third goal of the season, winning the match for the Ochilview Park side in style.

The 21-year-old fired home an excellent strike from range after 34 minutes to hand Stenhousemuir the advantage. And another solid defensive showing earned a third successive league clean sheet.

Speaking to the Falkirk Herald, proud boss Marvin Bartley hailed his part-time players’ fitness and resolve after going again following a quick turnaround from the 1-0 win over full-time Partick Thistle four days earlier.

Hearts co-op loan player Gus Stevenson on the move for Stenhousemuir (Photo: Michael Gillen)

placeholder image — Hearts co-op loan player Gus Stevenson on the move for Stenhousemuir (Photo: Michael Gillen)

“The big thing for me was that we won this game on the back of playing on Tuesday night against Partick Thistle,” he explained. “And that is so tough, having a midweek fixture before a Saturday game when you consider the schedule we have had as a part-time club. We did ask the SPFL to schedule the Thistle game later on but that wasn’t something they were willing to do.

“I am so proud of the players for again showing so much energy and doing the hard yards. The group put on another good performance and showed how fit they are.”

On the matchwinning moment, he added: “Lewis (O’Donnell) scored a fantastic goal. Even in the build-up to the goal, Andrew Shinnie wins a great foul and Meeks (Ross Meechan) does so well to get in front of his man beforehand and have a go. It was a goal worthy of winning any match.”

Things don’t get any easier for Bartley’s team as they now travel to Somerset Park tomorrow to face Ayr United, managed by Gary Naysmith, who departed Ochilview Park in the summer a club legend after leading the Warriors to the second tier from the depths of Scottish League Two.

Hamzad Kargbo wins a header for Stenhousemuir (Pictures by Michael Gillen)

That’s another Friday night fixture with the home clash against Livingston next month having also just been selected for live television coverage by BBC Scotland. That game is now being played on Friday, October 30.

Three days before that, Stenhousemuir host Dunfermline midweek with Partick Thistle away preceding that to make it three games in a week against full-time clubs.