Match Report - By Match Secretary

Brechin blew the chance of another pre-season scalp after literally throwing away a 1-0 lead at Station Park last night.

City coasted through much of the first half and shouyld have been two or three goals in front, but some fine goalkeeping by Ally Brown in the Forfar goal and the woodwork kept City at bay.

Brechin had the bulk of the early opportunities and after only two minutes Charlie King and ex-Clyde trialist Sean McKenna were both inches from getting their heads to the first corner of the game.

City thought they had taken the lead when Davie White rose above everyone to get his head to a Kev Byers corner, only to see his net bound header hooked off the line.

The visitors made the breakthrough they deserved on 27 minutes when a well-struck King cross found McKenna in space in front of goal and the trialist made no mistake in placing his close-range header beyond the reach of Ally Brown.

Brechin should have doubled their lead on 37 minutes when, after being set up by King, Kevin Byers could only shake his head in despair as his unstoppable shot rocketed off the crossbar. Darren Smith had a further opportunity, after a good approach play on the left, but couldn't hit the target.

The half time changes seemed to have more of an effect on Brechin than it did their hosts. Off went Dyer, Byers, Janzyk, King and Seeley and on came Calum Smith, Adam Nelson, Trialist Kenny Waugh, John Ward and Stevie Canning.

Just after the hour mark Michael Stuart let fly from 20 yards out and Brechin keeper Craig Nelson was happy to see the shot flash by his right-hand post.

Forfar’s equaliser came in the most surreal fashion when, on 77 minutes, Nelson made a hash of what should have been a straightforward kick out from hands, blasting the ball instead against Bryan Duell and looking on in disbelief as it ricocheted back into his net.

On 86 minutes a Stuart cross-cum-shot from the right again found Duell in the right place to turn the ball past Nelson.

Forfar completed their comeback two minutes from time when Fraser knocked a through ball to Duell, whose cheeky heel flick set the ball up nicely for Stuart to fire home at the near post.