Match Report - By Secretary

BRECHIN City's season continued in fine style as the defeated Partick Thistle 1-0 at Glebe Park this afteroon.

A goal from substitute Charlie King in the 55th minute gave City victory. It was very much a game of two halves and Chris McCluskey was called in to action a couple of times against his former club to make a couple of saves.

Partick goalkeeper, John Tuffey was called upon to make good saves from Calum Smith and Kevin Byers early on.

Ryan McStay had Thistle’s first opportunity trialist Simon Lynch tested McCluskey after being set up by Simon Donnelly but the Brechin keeper was again equal to the task.

City went closest of all to taking the lead after 15 minutes, when John Ward outjumped everyone, only have his header hooked off the line 'Wardy' only being denied a goal by a lasp gasp goal line clearance

Kevin McKinlay was busy on the left hand flank for Thistle and his run and cross in the 17th minute nearly produced a goal but Simon Lynch’s header slipped wide of the post.

Adam Nelson had a chance for City, after he side stepped his marker, but shot narrowly wide of the target.

A minute later McKinlay was heavily involved in Thistle’s next attack when his header presented Simon Lynch with a great opportunity to open the scoring. Smon Lynch went down inside the City box but as Referee Neil Watters adjudged that the city defender had got the ball first.

As well as giving the players another tough pre=season work out, the Thistle game also provided, Michael, Kev McAllister and Paddy Connolly with the chance to look at the "Trialists" and Brechins "Trialist" centre-half was particularly impressive, especially playing against the likes of Simon Lynch and Mark Roberts.

Chris McLuskey produced his first real test in denying Simon Donnely with a header after 25 minutes. But at this stage, chances were few and far between with the City back four putting in another solid shift.

Stephen Mckeown sent a side foot shot over the bar on 36 minutes before the half ended with Ryan McStay sending a shot over the bar.

As is the norm in pre-season games both sides made a number of changes at the break with Thistle in particular seeming to be affected by the number of changes.

City introduced Charlie King, Davie White and a "Trialist" midfield player at half-time and they were soon followed by another "Newman" on the left side of the Brechin midfield.

City had by far the better of the second half

Jonny Tuffey had to be alert in the 50th minute to kept it all square at 0-0 with a point blank save from Calum Smith. However, City took a deserved lead after 55 minutes. An excellent ball to the far post from Brechin's candidate for Man of the Match, Willie Dyer was met by Charlie King at the far post and he gave Tuffey no chance with a well struck volley.

Thistle came closest to an equaliser in the 63rd minute. Mark Roberts was able to work himself into a promising position on the Thistle left with Gary Harkins’ first time shot from Roberts’ cross going wide of goal.

But it was City who continued to look more likely. Calum Smith tried to catch Tuffey off his line with a well struck long range drive that bounced past the post and two great passes once again from the left flank, one from Dyer again and another from Janczyk gave City's "Trialist" inside left two good opportunities. The first chance, the best of the two, produced a fine save from Tuffey to keep Thistle in the game and the second saw the young player fire over the bar.

Ian Diack also got his first run out following his successful hernia operation and the sub almost made it two nil when he latched on to a through ball, but City were denied again at the last minute. With Tuffey making another point-blank stopp from the big City striker.

Calum Smith had a number of opportunities to get on the scoresheet and Calum was denied again when in the 69th minute only a saving lastgasp tackle from Jags defender, John Robertson denied City another certain counter.

In the end, City ran out quite comfortable winners and there were some excellent performances. The aforementioned Willie Dyer had an excellent game, as did, new signing Stevening Canning, who also showed his versatility, performing equally well in midfield in the first half and at right-back in the second.

Former Jags goalkeeper, Chris McCluskey also got a game under his belt and put in yet another confident display.

Michael O'Neill will, this week, tiue up the signatures of a couple of players and we will bring you further updates on www.brechincityfc.com

City's next game is on Tuesday evening against Dick Campbell's Forfar Athletic side at Station Park. kick-0ff is 7-45.