Match Report - By Steven Mew

BRECHIN City had to settle for a share of the spoils against fellow strugglers Berwick Rangers on Saturday.

City held the upper hand for much of the game, but the old failings in front of goal once again cost them dearly.

For the second week in succession, City were also robbed of the services of a central defender. In-form Scott Walker being the individual who missed out on Saturday through illness, although his central defensive partner, Davie White returned to the fold. White partnered Willie Dyer in the heart of the Brechin rearguard.

Neither side gave much awat in the opening exhanges. However, City did have the upper hand possession wise. Martin Johnston was first to go close for Brechin, although his drive from around ten yards failed to hit the target.

Then Charlie King tested the visitor's keeper with an excellent effort after he had cut in from the right flank.

Having had a few opportunities to go in front, City were hit by the classic sucker punch in the 36th minute. Paul McMullan swung in a corner from the right and Ian Little was practically on the goal line when he headed home.

Darren Gribben picked up a nasty challenge which required treatment and although he continued for the remainder of the half. The striker was replaced at half-time by Kevin Byers.

Byers' contribution was instrumental in Brechin's much better start to the second half and the only surprise was that it took them until the 60th minute to get back on level terms. Charlie King gathered a rebound from Stuart Callaghan's effort and buried it in the corner of the net.

Byers' progress down the right flank was causing the visitors problems at this stage and he should have handed his side the lead with a great bit of skill in the 65th minute. Byers lofted the ball past a defender and beyond the goalkeeper, but then proceeded to miss the target with the goal at his mercy.

If that was a real blow for the home side, worse was to follow almost immediately. Berwick broke upfield and on-loan winger Kevin Davidson fired his side into a 2-1 lead.

In the 72nd minute it was all-square once again. Charlie King was felled with his back to goal and Stuart Callaghan stepped up to make an excellent job of the spot-kick.

Two refereeing decisions in the space of a minute then saw the home fans vent their anger on referee Craig Charleston. First of all the whistler produced a straight red card for a challeng
e by Martin Johnston on Berwick centre-half Robbie Horn.

It got worse for Brechin when Charlie King was clearly upended in the penalty area with the goal at his mercy eight yards out and the referee booked the City front man for diving. This looked like a much more convincing penalty kick than the one the official had actually given.
City continued to press with ten men, but couldn't find a way through the home defence.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Ayr United 1 Cowdenbeath 4

Cowden record an impressive result at Ayr.

Peterhead 0 Airdrie United 1

Airdrie edge out Peterhead at Balmoor.

Queen's Park 1 Alloa Athletic 0

An important victory for the Spiders.

Ross County 2 Raith Rovers 3

5 goal thriller in the 1st v 2nd clash.