Match Report - By Match Secy

BRECHIN went down by the narrowest of margins in the first round of the Challenge Cup in a game that always looked like being won by the first side to open the scoring.

It was a former Red who did the damage when following Craig Nelson's parry from another ex-City player's drive (Kev Fotheringham), big Chris Templeman was first to react to knock the ball home.

Brechin had the upper hand in the first half, although the Fifers, and notably Bobby Linn, had a few chances. Linn being denied on a couple of occasions by City's veteran goalkeeper.

Gary Twigg made a promising debut and linked up well with Charlie King and Ian Nimmo was arguably City's Man of the Match until he was dismissed for a foul on Linn in the second period. That killed the game from City's perspective.

Referee Steve Nicholls had earlier denied Neil Janczyk a penalty, when the former Jambo went over in the box after waltzing past Steven Tweed. The official judging that the Brechin player was guilty of simulation, when "Janny" appeared to be about to "pull the trigger".

There were other notable displays from Willie Dyer at left-back. And Michael O'Neill said his side must show a degree more consistency in the coming weeks.

"Other than the first ten or 15 minutes of the first half, we did well during that period. We looked a much better side when we get the ball down and pass it. However, at times we were guilty of not delivering good enough quality into the box from wide areas and set plays. Our front players didn't have enough created for them, especially in the second half.

"The penalty incident and the sending off finished us. Especially the latter, I never have a go at referees as they have a very difficult job to do, but I did tell Steven Nicholls after the game that I thought Ian's challenge was worth a booking. It's one of those that you get going for you sometimes and against you the next.

"Gary Twigg showed he will do a job for us and if we can get more supply and support for him we have something to work on. There wasn't much between the teams, but we need to play consistently well as we did in much of the first half for the full 90 minutes."