Match Report - By John Hoey

City bowed out of the CIS Cup after a 3-0 defeat from high-flying Hibs at Easter Road.

Hibs got the opener after only 10 minutes through Derek Riordan and an Ian Nimmo own-goal six minutes later made City’s task extremely difficult. A 55th minute goal from Paul Hanlon sealed the win for the hosts.

City battled hard for the entire 90 minutes, but they were unlucky to come up against a slick-moving Hibs side, who on this form look to have a fine season ahead of them in the Premier League.

City made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 against Stirling Albion at Forthbank on Saturday with Ian Nimmo and Neil Janczyk replacing Ian Harty and Steven Canning who dropped to the bench.

Brechin began the game with their normal 4-4-2 formation with Charlie King moving forward to partner Rory McAllister up front.

Hibs pressed straight from the kick-off with Riordan shooting high over the bar from good position in the 4th minute and a minute later, new signing Anthony Stokes had a shot from the edge of the box blocked by Paul McLean.

City hit back straight away though, and in the 6th minute Nimmo played a back pass to Mark Docherty at the edge of the box, but the young midfielder, under pressure, hurried his shot which went high and wide.

The visitors had a narrow escape in the 8th minute when Janczyk mis-directed a pass across the pitch to Riordan, who moved forward and fired in a shot which went just wide of the target.

However, Hibs kept pressing and scored the opener with a wonderful goal from Riordan in the 10th minute.

The young striker spotted City keeper Craig Nelson slightly off his line and from 20 yards he cleverly lobbed the helpless keeper.

Hibs scored their second goal just six minutes later, with Riordan again the instigator. He fired in a cross from the left which Nelson looked to have covered, but at the last moment the ball took a deflection off Nimmo and ended up in the back of the net with the keeper stranded.

City didn’t let their heads go down and within a minute Janczyk found himself with space in the box but he shot wide from good position.

Stokes repeated the exercise for Hibs a couple of minutes later when he was clean through but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

City had another narrow escape in the 24th minute when an angular John Rankin drive from the left came off the post with Nelson beaten, and Stokes scooped the ball over the bar from two yards.

King had a go for City a minute later when his shot from just within the box hit the side-netting.

Despite being two goals down, City were battling hard and competing well but the speed of the Hibs attacks were hard to deal with.

Abdessalam Benjelloun who had had a quiet game nearly got Hibs third goal a couple of minutes before the break when his fierce drive from just outside the box went inches past and a minute later a Riordan 30 yard drive narrowly missed the target.

The Hibees started where they left off after the break and they went further ahead with a fine goal in the 55th minute.

Paul Hanlon picked up the ball on the left touchline and moved forward to the edge of the box before unleashing a tremendous right-foot drive which soared into the back of the net, giving Nelson no chance.

The hosts scorned another great chance in the 67th minute when Hanlon sent a great pass across the box for Stokes but he fumbled his shot and Nelson was able to save.

As the half wore on, Hibs were looking dangerous every time they moved forward and the City defence were fighting hard to keep the hosts strike-force at bay.

Brechin had another amazing escape in the 81st minute when Riordan delivered a great pass to Stokes, lying unmarked inside the box but he blasted the ball over the bar.

Stokes had another attempt at goal from 35 yards with four minutes remaining but he was again wide of the target.

With a couple of minutes left, substitute Kurtis Byrne fired in a shot from 20 yards which Nelson did well to save.

Jim Duffy, speaking after the game, said,

“ It was a very good performance from Hibernian.

I thought that they played a really expansive game and stretched the game really well.

The first goal was a bit of class and it won’t be the last time that Derek Riordan does that. He’ll do it again against top-class sides because you know he has that type of skill in his locker.

The last goal was a bit of real quality as well, and from our point of view if you’re going to lose a game against a quality side and they’ve got to come up with class goals it helps a little bit.

I thought my players gave everything. They worked really hard and they’d a lot of last-ditch blocks. Hibs had a lot of chances and we’re not attempting to disguise that fact, but all I can ask my players to do is to give everything, and I think they did that.

There were some very good performances from my team in terms of how they tried to play. I’m sure that Hibs fans will acknowledge the fact that we didn’t try to stick the boot in and boot the ball up the pitch. I’ve never adopted that approach and I always want my team to play football. We did try to play when we got the opportunity, but unfortunately there weren’t that many opportunities. When we did have the ball we tried to play but Hibs closed us down very quickly.

As I’ve said, Hibs are a very good side and if they can maybe add to their squad, and I’m sure John will attempt to do that, then this is perhaps a season when Hibs might be able to steal a march on the rest of the clubs because of the current financial situation. There’s no reason that Hibs, when they get the balance right, can’t challenge for third place and I’m sure that Hibs fans looking at their squad at the present time would be disappointed if they weren’t at least in the top four. They’re good to watch and play the type of football you would expect from any side managed by John Hughes.

My lads though gave everything. I thought young Paul Mclean at the back, who’s only just turned nineteen was superb. Willie Dyer was excellent at full-back. Ian Nimmo is another player who performed really well, although we had to take him off as he was absolutely exhausted with the work-rate he put in. Rory McAllister, a former Scottish Under 21 international also worked very hard. If some of those lads had the opportunity to go full-time I’m sure they would get better. I’m not saying they would be at Hibs level, but they’re certainly better than Second Division level. If we can hold on to these guys and continue to work hard then I’m sure we’ll have a decent season.”

Hibs boss John Hughes in his post-match comments was also paid tribute to City.

“ It was a good professional job from my team, but it had to be. You have to compliment Brechin. They were resolute and hard-working and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season.”

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