Match Report - By Keith Johnston

So the beginning of a new era for Brechin as Ian Campbell took charge for the first time. Twin brother Dick was in the stand, but played no part in team affairs. The opposition were Alloa who have been on a good run of late and were fresh from having no game on New Year’s Day because of the weather.

Brechin made a good start to the game and had their first chance in the first minute. Steve Hampshire dispossessed Michael Bolochoweckyj and crossed for Graham Gibson, but he was unable to keep his header down.
Alloa were then saved by the woodwork in the fifth minute as Craig Winter’s low shot struck the post. Fortunately for the visitors, the rebound eluded all the red shirts that were following up.
Brechin had to wait until the 17th minute to take a deserved lead. Kevin McLeish got to the by-line and crossed for Paul Ritchie who had a simple header to open the scoring.
City continued to apply pressure and Kevin McLeish played a dangerous ball in between goalkeeper and defenders in the 20th minute, but James Evans was able to smother the danger.
At the other end, Brechin were given a warning as the visitors had their first real chance of the game. Craig Nelson misjudged a high ball, which fell invitingly for a yellow shirt (I think Andy Brown but I was nearer the other end of the ground and didn’t see clearly through the mass of shirts) who stabbed it goalward. Nelson was rescued by the base of the post before the rebound came straight back into his arms.
Brechin responded seven minutes later with a good exchange of passes by Grant Johnson and Steve Hampshire, but the latter’s shot was off target.
The humour of the afternoon was then provided by referee Kevin Toner who came over to the Alloa bench to lecture them, presumably about coming onto the pitch. His parting words to them were: “and if you’re gonnae shout, gonnae no make it such a high pitch” - to which they had no answer.
Back to the action and Kevin McLeish was the next player to have an effort on goal, in the 34th minute, with a drive from the edge of the box after being setup by Paul Ritchie, but it went narrowly wide.
Moments later, Steve Hampshire had a decent effort well saved by the goalkeeper. The parry only went as far as Grant Johnson though who found King, he in turn crossed for Gibson but the header went over the crossbar.
The last effort on goal of the half was by Brechin. In the 43rd minute, Hampshire and Gibson combined down the right to setup a shot for Craig Winter but it was off target.
So City went in one goal up at the interval. However, you can see from this report that it was one-way traffic in the first half – with the exception of the one Alloa chance. City really should have had their visitors dead and buried at the interval.

The half time break gave Dick Campbell the opportunity to come onto the pitch and wave goodbye to the Brechin supporters. Like Chris Templeman a few weeks ago, he was given a magnificent ovation by the fans. We wish him well at Partick and hope to be playing them in the first division next season.

Brechin had the first chance of the second half when Paul Ritchie saw a decent effort smothered by the goalkeeper.
However, in the 49th minute, Alloa broke up the park through Richard Walker who was challenged in the box by his namesake Scott. The City man clearly won the ball, but referee Toner ruled differently, awarding the penalty. Brown Ferguson put the spot kick away, sending Nelson the wrong way.
Five minutes later, the visitors had another effort on goal but Nelson was equal to it, with a good low save.
City began to search for a goal that would put them ahead again and Charlie King almost provided it in the 65th minute. He collected a Paul Deas throw but saw his shot blocked by Townsley for a corner.
Since Alloa’s equaliser, Brechin had looked ok, but not spectacular and were relieved to secure the lead again in the 69th minute. Charlie King drove in a low cross that resulted in a bit of a scramble, but Graham Gibson retained his composure to fire home at the second attempt.
The lead was short-lived. Three minutes later, a near post corner was flicked on by Brown, over Craig Nelson, to Ross Hamilton who had an easy chance on the line. The original award of the corner was slightly dubious, but losing goals from set-pieces is always hard to take – and unlike Brechin this season.
Ian Campbell’s men began to look like a side that had played just two days ago and never really seemed capable taking the lead again, although Charlie King had a decent effort saved by Evans.
With time appearing to be running out, Alloa were awarded a soft free-kick on Brechin’s right. The ball was delivered for Bolochoweckyj at the far post, who bulleted his header past Nelson and into the net. Again poor defending from a set-piece by City.
There was no way back from here as the visitors held firm against everything Brechin could throw at them in the final minutes.

Overall, a disappointing result especially after being in the lead twice. City were made to pay for missing all the opportunities they had to put the game beyond Alloa in the first half. But nothing should be taken away from the visitors they took their chances when they came and deservedly left with three points. City must now regroup ahead of next week’s cup tie at Berwick.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Arbroath 0 Stranraer 4

Comfortable win for Stranraer.

Ayr United 2 Morton 1

Morton still too inconsistent as Ayr move up to third.

Dumbarton 1 Forfar Athletic 1

Honours even at Dumbarton.