Brechin City Football Club

Glebe Park, Brechin, Angus DD9 6BJ

Tel : 01356 623344
Email : secretary@brechincityfc.com
www.brechincity.com

News - 27 September 2020

Pre-Season | Montrose 1-1 Brechin City - By Steven Mew

A last minute equaliser from Benjamin Luissint gave City a deserved draw against near neighbours Montrose at a blustery Links Park yesterday afternoon.

The conditions were far from ideal however Manager Mark Wilson will have been more than satisfied with the way his side performed against higher league opposition.

Having just signed on loan yesterday, both Connor Barron and Matty Todd were named in the starting 11 along with Leeroy Makovora who also made his first appearance after missing out last week through injury. Goalkeeper Paddy O'Neil also had his first outing of pre-season, replacing Lewis McMinn between the sticks.

The home side started brightly and there was a scare for City after 3 minutes when Craig Johnston found Cammy Ballantyne in space on the edge of the box - his strike cannoned off the post and into the grateful arms of O’Neil.

In a fast start to the game, City could have been ahead themselves a minute later. Leeroy Makovora raced onto a poor passback however Sean Dillon did well to get back and block the effort from the on-loan Hearts striker.

A youthful City XI, featuring as many as seven players born after the millennium, were starting to find their rhythm. Kieran Inglis played a neat one-two with Scott Cusick however his effort was tame and didn’t trouble Aaron Lennox in the Montrose goal. A minute later, Rory Currie teed up Matty Todd who struck over the bar from 20 yards out.

City continued to come forward in search of the opener. Rory Currie did well to win possession in midfield and played the ball inside for Kieran Inglis - he drove forward forward but his wind-assisted shot flew over.

On the half hour mark the wind almost worked to City’s advantage. A fairly innocuous looking delivery from Dave McKay swirled towards goal and Lennox did well to backtrack and tip over the crossbar.

Despite City looking the more likely to open the scoring, it was the hosts who nudged themselves ahead with 35 minutes on the clock. Cammy Ballantyne dinked the ball into the box for LEWIS HAWKE to lash a volley past O’Neil.

City made one change at the interval with Scott Reekie replacing Sean McIntosh.

Montrose threatened early in the second period with Craig Johnston getting in behind the City rearguard, however his effort was saved comfortably by O‘Neil.

Mark Wilson made a trio of changes shortly after the hour mark with Leeroy Makovora, Matty Todd and a trialist being replaced by Luc Bollan and a further two trialists.

This marked the start of another good spell for City. A 25-yard piledriver from Inglis was tipped over the bar by Lennox and a minute later, Rory Currie did well to take down a lofted ball from a trialist but saw his shot blocked.

Ross Brown and Benjamin Luissint were introduced to the action on 68 minutes, replacing the hugely impressive midfield duo of Connor Barron and Kieran Inglis.

With 76 minutes on the clock it took some outstanding defending from Kerr Waddell to deny City an equaliser. Scott Cusick had burst through on goal however a last ditch tackle from Waddell denied the on-loan Dunfermline winger.

At the other end, Sean Dillon clipped over the bar from a corner whilst substitute Iain Campbell also saw his free kick on the edge of the box curl just over.

With six minutes remaining an inch perfect corner from Cusick was met by Scott Reekie who headed over – the City defender will certainly be disappointed he didn’t hit the target.

Cusick continued to impress going forward and he would come close when he latched onto an excellent ball forward from Ross Brown, however he was denied by the feet of Lennox.

City continued to knock at the door and got the equaliser that their play deserved as the match entered stoppage time. It was a well worked move which ended with Dave McKay cutting the ball back for BENJAMIN LUISSINT who provided a deft finish into the far corner.

Montrose FC: Aaron Lennox, Cammy Ballantyne, Andrew Steeves, Kerr Waddell, Sean Dillon, Paul Watson, Graham Webster, Cammy F Ballantyne, Lewis Hawke, Craig Johnston, Aidan Quinn. Substitutes: Matty Allan, Ross Campbell, Iain Campbell, Fraser MacLeod, Theo Leslie, Stuart MacFarlane, Allan Fleming (GK).

Brechin City FC: Patrick O’Neil, Sean McIntosh (Scott Reekie 45), Dave McKay, Jonathan Page, Kieran Inglis (Benjamin Luissint 68), Rory Currie, Scott Cusick, Trialist (Luc Bollan 61), Connor Barron (Ross Brown 68), Leeroy Makovora (Trialist 61), Matthew Todd (Trialist 61). Subs not used: Lewis McMinn (GK)