Match Report - By Match Secy

Battling Brechin showed their fighting qualities and dominated the second half of this Angus derby to deservedly claim all three points.

Arbroath had always proved a threat, especially on the break where the pace of Bryan Scott was a feature of their game. However, City always appeared to have the upper hand possession wise, where Neil Janczyk, was once again prominent. Michael O'Neill also surprised many with a very attacking 4-3-3 set up which featured Twigg, Paton and a first start for John Baird. City also welcomed back John Ward from injury, stepping straight into the heart of a defence which had shipped five goals the previous week.

The game started brightly with both teams coming out of the traps in search of a win and a dangerous Richard Walker cross forced former Brechin player Black to head the ball over his own cross bar under pressure in the third minute.

Arbroath had a great chance two minutes later, as new signing David McGowan played a great reverse ball through to Bryan Scott on the right hand side, but he couldn’t control the ball when clean through on goal and Craig Nelson was out quickly to smother the ball.

Scott was looking lively for the Lichties and after 15 minutes the striker escaped the attentions of David White and fired a dangerous ball across the face of the goal, but there were no takers for the home side with Gates eventually shooting tamely wide at the back post.

Arbroath were looking the more likely at this stage, and took the lead in the 20th minute when a long free kick was lobbed into the box by Gates, and Scott was on hand to nod the ball home after it had been headed back across the goal.

Going one down seemed to galvanise Brechin and they almost hit back immediately when Walker played a nice one-two with Michael Paton before whipping the ball in for John Baird to head in at the back post.

However, referee Colin Brown had blown for a foul on Walker as the ball was in the air and the goal was disallowed. This incensed the away side, particularly as the resulting free kick came to nothing.

City kept pressing though, and Baird saw another attempt blocked on the line before setting up his team’s equaliser after 34 minutes.

Neil Janczyk played a wonderful pass from the middle of the park down to Baird on the left hand side, and the on loan striker lobbed the ball back across for Gary Twigg to send the ball looping over Hill at the back post.

It was no less than Brechin deserved and they were almost in front right on the stroke of half time as Twigg chested down a long ball to Paton whose shot from the edge of the box deflected back to the City striker, but he dragged his left footed effort wide of the far post when perhaps he should have scored.

Arbroath came out for the second half and a nice turn and shot from McGowan forced Nelson to tip the ball over the bar. Two minutes later the Lichties striker played a lovely ball through to Scott, but White was able to get across and make a great saving tackle.

The next 15 minutes were very scrappy, with both teams losing their way a bit in the windy conditions, particularly as Arbroath were sitting deeper and deeper trying to hold onto the draw, leaving only Scott up front.

This prompted both sides to make changes, with Weir and Masson coming on for Lunan and Gates before Brechin brought on Charlie King for the unusually quiet Paton.

The substitutions brought a bit of life back to the game, with Scott forcing a fantastic save from Craig Nelson under pressure from Ward, before Darren Smith latched onto a quick free kick down the other end, only to see his low drive palmed away by Hill.

Brechin were now starting to turn the screw, aided by the introduction of Kevin Byers as City reverted back to their usual 4-4-2 formation.

Brechin won a corner in the 72nd minute thanks to good play from King and Twigg down the left hand side, and Janczyk’s delivery caused a goal mouth scramble, but Baird put his resulting shot wide.

Two minutes later Baird was once again involved as he played a lovely reverse ball to Smith clean through in the left channel but the Hill saved the skipper’s shot.

With 10 minutes left Janczyk’s delivery again caused the home side problems as he saw his corner flicked on, only to be cleared off the line at the far post.

The resulting corner saw Brechin take a deserved lead though, as King’s in swinger from the right hand side was headed in by Twigg as he lost his man to guide the ball home from the centre of the six yard box.

Substitute Byers almost made the game safe right at the death, as he set off on a jinking run which eventually resulted in a low left foot shot from the edge of the box which Hill was able to turn away.

All credit to the players after a poor result last week and the loss of a goal, they showed great characater to go and win this fixture against a side scrapping for every point.

Brechin manager, Michael O'Neill also praised the cluib's supporters who attended in good numbers in the 700+ crowd. He said: "At times it was like a home game for us, when we were on top in the second half and forcing umpteen corners, the fans stuck with us and really helped rally the players.

"Overall, I thought we deserved our victory. Arbroath made it hard for us, especially in the second period, but we showed good character and determination and looked like the side we really are when we passed the ball.

"The response of the players at the finish was heart warming they wanted to thank the supporters and that's the sort of support I hope both continue to give each other in the vital weeks ahead.

"For me John Baird and Gary Twigg were exceptional for us in the forward line and we must ensure we go on and build on this result and get a run together again."