Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City moved up to third place in the Scottish Second Division with a hard-fought and narrow victory over Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park.

Up until Saturday’s game, City opponents has been undefeated, but a wonderful goal from Charlie King in the 23rd minute was enough to secure the points in an emotional day at the Glebe.

Prior to the kick-off, players, spectators, match officials, backroom staff and City directors past and present observed a minute’s silence for the late club honorary president and former chairman David Will who had sadly passed away on Thursday evening after a long illness.

The visitors made the early running and forced three corners within the first fifteen minutes, none of which came to anything.

City had the first chance after six minutes when Willie Dyer made room for himself in the Stenny box and his low angular drive was just inches past the target.

Rory McAllister tried a shot a minute later, when he collected a pass and fired in a right-foot drive which former City keeper Chris McCluskey did well to parry.

The visitors has a half-chance at the other end five minutes later but Chris McLeod sent his shot high over the bar.

In the 19th minute, Neil Janczyk had a shot from just within the penalty-box which squirmed just past the post, after great work from McAllister had created the opening.

However, the deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute with an absolutely superb goal from King.

‘Chucky’ collected a cross from Richard Walker, controlled the ball on his chest, before turning and firing an unstoppable right-foot drive into the top corner of the net, giving McCluskey no chance.

The visitors had a half-chance fifteen minutes later when former City striker Iain Diack bore in on goal, but Craig Nelson came quickly off his line to narrow the angle and the strikers effort went high and wide.

City began the second-half with Kris Renton on for King who had had a problem with his hamstring, and the big man made his presence felt almost immediately when he sent an inch-perfect pass to McAllister who bore in on goal, but McCluskey was off his line quickly to avert the danger.

Brechin had a very narrow let-off in the 52nd minute when Barry Smith brought down Craig Molloy in the penalty-box. Referee Steve Nicholls immediately pointed to the penalty-spot and Scott Dalziel stepped up to take the kick. However, the striker hit the spot-kick straight at Nelson who saved easily.

In the 62nd minute, a Dalziel shot was brilliantly parried by Nelson and Richard Walker booted the ball away with the City defence under pressure ands five minutes later Dalziel sent in a good cross from thje right which Andy Brand got his head to but Nelson saved easily.

The City keeper was in action again in the 71st minute when he had to dive at full stretch to keep out a Kevin Bradley drive.

City, with almost their last chance of the match looked certain to double their lead in the 76th minute when Renton headed across the penalty-box straight to McAllister who blasted the ball right on the target, but McCluskey again came to Stenny’s rescue when he pulled off a magnificent instinctive save.

City boss Jim Duffy said,

“ It was a very hard fought game today and it wasn’t our best performance by any manner of means.”

“ Stenhousemuir are a tough team to play against. They work very hard and close you down and we had to work extremely hard for the three points.”

“ It was a battling performance from the boys who showed a different side to their game today.”

“ We defended our penalty-box very well, and the goalkeeper, the back four and Barry Smith sitting just in front of them were different class.”

“ In terms of creativity, we didn’t perform as well as we have done but the work-rate of the players was immense.”

“ Both keepers were at the top of their game today and that’s why there wasn’t a lot of goals but both teams worked very hard throughout the match and I was delighted with my players commitment.”

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