Match Report - By Steven Mew

Brechin City showed steel and style in equal measure as they left Spain Park with a impressive 2–0 victory over Banks O’ Dee yesterday evening, courtesy of a goal in each half from Mitch Taylor and Mitchell Findlay.

Manager Ray McKinnon named an unchanged starting 11 from the previous match against Rothes, with emergency loan signing Lewis McKelvie taking also taking a place on the bench alongside a trialist. Bayley Klimionek also returned after missing the fixture at the weekend.

City started brightly and almost grabbed an early lead on six minutes when Paul Watson’s inswinging corner clipped the post before being hacked clear. Two minutes later, Grady McGrath volleyed over from 10 yards after a teasing cross from the right, and moments later Cillian Sheridan’s angled strike was gathered by home keeper Daniel Hoban.

Banks O’ Dee’s first real chance arrived on 26 minutes as debutant Alex Balfour let fly from distance, his effort ending up on the roof of the net. Brechin responded in ruthless fashion eight minutes later – Paul Watson split the home defence with a perfectly weighted pass for MITCH TAYLOR, who ghosted in behind the defence and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Hoban to make it 1–0.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser before the break with Sam Pugh seeing a deflected effort drift wide on 36 minutes before Jevan Anderson headed wide from a corner four minutes later.

The visitors came out looking for a second goal early in the second half and nearly found it on 51 minutes when Brad McKay rose highest at the back post to meet Macleod’s free-kick, but his header flew over. Three minutes later McGrath’s low strike was gathered by Hoban and shortly after, a dangerous Taylor cross narrowly evaded Sheridan before being turned behind for a corner.

From the resulting period of pressure, Brechin doubled their lead just before the hour mark - Taylor again the provider with a whipped cross that was flicked on into the path of MITCHELL FINDLAY who applied a close-range finish.
Taylor continued to torment the hosts, delivering another superb cross on 64 minutes that flashed across goal with no takers, before Watson’s low free-kick on 66 minutes rolled just wide.

Banks O’ Dee enjoyed plenty of the ball yet Brechin refused to yield, snapping into tackles and closing every gap. A Euan Spark slip in the 71st minute gifted substitute Max Alexander a sight of goal, but Dugald Farquhar threw himself into a tremendous block to deny the hosts a lifeline.

Tensions rose on 76 minutes when Andy Hunter kicked out at Brad McKay in frustration, escaping with only a yellow card.

Substitution Magnus Watson tried an audacious overhead kick effort on 83 minutes that looped over, but City’s defence remained resolute to the final whistle.

It was a performance that underlined Brechin’s title credentials - clinical when chances came, composed under pressure and more than willing to fight for every ball.

The result saw City move two points clear at the top of the Highland League table and we are back in action again on Saturday as Buckie Thistle visit the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park. City will have to be wary of a backlash against a Jags side that lost 4-1 on their own patch against Strathspey Thistle yesterday evening.

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Turriff United 2 Formartine United 3

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