Match Report - By Match Secy

BRECHIN City picked up the local bragging rights in the first Angus derby of the season, but if the truth be told, City have played better than this during this campaign and not won.

The reds were missing, Fusco, Ward and Seeley and with just 16 players available, manager O'Neill shuffled the pack with David Murie operating as an emergency centre back alongside Davie White.

City started the game very well and kept possession for long periods of the game early on. It took the home side 24 minutes to get their noses in front and it was a well timed run from Kevin Byers that made the opening. Arbroath's centre-backs Rab Raeside and Jamie Bishop tried to play Byers on the right flank offside, but the City midfield man timed his run to perfection and calmly rounded Hill who had raced off his line, before sweeping the ball home much to the delight of the home support.

Brechin had another opportunity when Darren Smith cut inside Rennie on the left flank and sent in a tantalising near post cross, but neither Diack or Twigg could get a touch on it.

Arbroath fought their way back into the game and they looked dangerous at set plays. From one of these, Lunan got his head to a Sellars corner and although the ball appeared to be blocked on the line there were furious protests from the Arbroath players that it had crossed the goal line. The referee and linesman both waved played on. However, the game was held up by ref, Steven McLean, after veteran Lichties striker, Paul Tosh, made some remarks to the assistant and was shown a straight red card.

Rather than hampering Arbroath, the sending off actually galvanised them to some extent and Brechin were often too guilty of allowing passes to go astray. The one exception in the City midfield, was Neil Janczyk, who won almost every header, his fair share of tackles, but above all, kept his composure when the game got fraught.

However, City thought they had scored a good second goal, when Ian Diack rose above his marker to head home a corner. The striker's celebrations were short-lived, as the referee pulled him up for a foul.

Arbroath, to their credit, stuck with three forwards for the start of the second period. However, there was a real blow for City with skipper, Darren Smith subbed and replaced by Charlie King. The Brechin captain had limped off after a challenge from Steven Rennie and could be out for a few weeks.

The Red Lichties were back in the game after 12 minutes of the second period. Craig Nelson parried a low drive from outside the box and Scott Gates was fastest to react and net a leveller.

Charlie King brought City back into the match and his low drive after he cut inside Black that just failed to hit the target, marked yet another turning point in the game.

Calum Smith did his chances of getting a start no harm at all after minute 67, when he managed to guide the ball through the legs of his marker and out of the reach of the unsighted Darren Hill. 2-1 to Brechin and at this point, City really upped their game at last.

Seven minutes later, super sub Smith sunk the visitors with a candidate for "Goal of the Season". He met the ball on the volley just inside the Arbroath penalty area and hammered a "screamer" past Hill into the top corner.

The young striker could have had a hat-trick, but he just failed to connect with a Kevin Byers cross from the right and was denied again when Bishop got in the way of his effort from 18 yards, which he was attempting to curl in at the far post.

Willie Dyer found space on the left flank and cut in onto his weaker right foot, but shot just wide of the target.

A good three points for City in what is always a tough fixture. The result sets them up for a top of the table clash against an Ayr United side at Somerset Park on Sunday next week with both sides going into that one unbeaten.

A reminder that next weekend's game at Somerset Park kicks-off at 3pm on Sunday.

City may be without skipper, Darren Smith. However, the manager reports that John Ward isn't far away from a comeback. John Seeley will also be available again after being "on call" and Gary Fusco the manager reports now needs a "game under his belt" to get back in action.