Match Report - By Steve Mitchell

BRECHIN City fans were faced with a trip to England last week and one to almost Northern Ireland this week – but their team continues to defy the odds – despite the media’s inability to give them any credit for their performances.

Reading some of the Sunday newspapers, you would have thought that Brechin were under a constant stream of pressure from the previous incumbents of top spot in Division Two.

Little wonder, when at Second and Third Division level, local hacks, who are usually supporters with a pen, spend so much time in the boardrooms and so little time on the terraces where the people that really matter are.

Jim McInally of Morton this week stated “It’s only a matter of time until these part-time sides fall apart”. Something no doubt Ian Campbell, will remind his players of, when they visit Cappielow in a fortnight’s time.

Campbell introduced new signing Stuart Callaghan to the fray in midfield. Grant Johnson was absent for personal reasons and Kevin Byers place in the midfield went to Graham Gibson.

The Stair Park pitch didn’t exactly look likely to produce a classic, but Brechin started brightly enough on it with Hampshire’s running off the ball a prominent feature.

At the other end, Jenkins went down in the box under a challenge from Winter. But Referee, Brian Cassidy, immediately turned penalty appeals away, from his position a few yards away from the incident.

Graham Gibson was almost handed the opportunity of a leveller, when Derek Wingate lost possession to him, but the back man’s left footed drive flew over the bar.

City then had a strong penalty claim also turned down when Hampshire’s cross appeared to be blocked by the raised arm of wing-back Swift. Again Mr Cassidy didn’t concur.

The closest the home side came to a goal a race off his line to dive at the feet of a forward in a 40-60 ball apart – saw Nelson divert McPhee’s close range effort from Graham cross for a corner.

Stranraer enjoyed a 15-20 minute spell where they forced a few corners, but the “Sunday Mail’s” John Neill must have been at another game as he reported “the Blues will be kicking themselves after missing a string of chances when they had Ian Campbell’s troops on the rack”. The reality of it was that Brechin were actually put under more sustained pressure by bottom of the table Berwick, seven days previously. And much of City’s problems arose from their determination to play football on a pitch that required the occasional hoof up the park.

City almost took the lead in 39 minutes with what was the best bit of striker link-up play of the first half. Hampshire laid the ball off to Ritchie and fully 35 yards out, the big striker took the ball on the drop. His effort was heading for the top corner, but on-loan Celtic goalkeeper, Michael McGovern, tipped the ball over the bar.

If Stranraer had held possession better in the first period. They conceded vital ground in the second.

First of all, McGovern almost made a hash of White’s free-kick to the far post. The goalkeeper then had to stoop to hold an in-swinging effort from Callaghan with Gibson almost getting a touch.

Callaghan was involved again when his cross to the far post was only inches from the glancing bonce of Gibson.

City got their reward for gaining the upper hand in the 62nd minute. Stranraer centre-back Murray Henderson, who wouldn’t look out of place in WWF Wrestling circles bundled Hampshire over 35 yards out. Winter played an accurate square pass to Callaghan and he looked up before chipping the goalkeeper with a delightful long-range effort.

City were well on top after the goal and Paul Ritchie was next to have a go, after a clever pass from Hampshire took him just inside the box, but he shot over.

Stranraer’s Kevin Finlayson then threw himself to the ground and was surrounded by City players as he attempted to cheat his side back into the game. The winger did the same a few moments later and this time, it resulted in Paul Deas picking up what was City’s only yellow card of the afternoon.

Stranraer’s Davie Graham, who was the target of a £50,000 bid from Gretna a few days before the game, was effectively marked out of the second half by the combined efforts of White and Walker.

The win, which takes City back to the summit, was a dogged, determined display, which didn’t show a lot of signs of a part-time side about to “fall apart”. The opposite was the truth in fact.

Of the City back four, skipper, Deas again had an outstanding game. In Midfield Callaghan was highly creative and his goal may have paid his transfer be back in one fell swoop. In the forward line, Hampshire was once again the pick of the bunch.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Alloa Athletic 5 Ayr United 1

Alloa's superb form continues with a drubbing of Ayr.

Berwick Rangers 0 Dumbarton 3

Dumbarton win to increase the gap between the bottom 2 and the rest.

Forfar Athletic 4 Stirling Albion 1

Forfar's improving form continues with a comfortable win over Stirling.

Morton 2 Arbroath 0

Morton defeat Arbroath who travel to Glebe Park next Saturday. Sanny got the second.