Match Report - By John Hoey

City failed to make ground on Second Division leaders Stirling Albion after going down by 1-0 against Peterhead in last night’s re-arranged fixture at Balmoor Stadium.

A goal by John Stewart, ten minutes from the end ensured victory for the Blue Toon in an evenly contested match.

Boss Jim Duffy was forced to make one change from the side that defeated Alloa on Saturday. Jon Seeley was unavailable because of work commitments, so Barry Smith moved back into central defence to partner Paul McLean with Charlie King moving back into midfield with young Mark Cowan being given a starting-place up front.

Peterhead were first to threaten after just four minutes when Neil McVitie sent a good pass down the right for Stewart who crossed into the box and Graeme Sharp blasted the ball just past the post from good position.

City hit back a couple of minutes later when a great pass from King gave Cowan a sight at goal, but Blue Toon keeper Jonathan Bateman parried the young striker’s effort and Rory McAllister bundled the rebound just past the post.

The hosts won a corner in the 7th minute from which Callum McDonald’s header was well saved by Craig Nelson.

Nelson came to Brechin’s rescue again ten minutes later when he did well to save a close-range Nicky Clark shot.

Brechin had another opportunity in the 21st minute when Cowan passed to Wille Dyer on the left, and his low cross into the box was met first-time by McAllister who shot just over the bar.

Neil Janczyk played a good ball into the danger area just a couple of minutes later, but King just failed to connect.

The hosts had another good chance in the 29th minute when Sharp picked up the ball on the left and moved to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a great right-foot shot, but Nelson was equal to the effort and brought off a great save.

Peterhead were first to threaten after the break when David Donald crossed into the box for Clark who headed just over the bar.

City hit back though and Richard Walker made room for himself on the right before sending a great cross into the penalty-box, but unfortunately there were no takers and the opportunity was lost.

Peterhead had a couple of chances shortly afterwards when McLean brought down Stewart at the edge of the box, but Bobby Mann hit his free-kick against the wall and the danger was eventually cleared. In the 65th minute, the ball fell kindly for Clark at the edge of the box but he fired high over the bar.

City created another good opportunity a minute later when a King pass reached McAllister on the right and his low cross into the box was just missed by Mark Docherty.

Willie Dyer tried a long-range shot in the 77th minute, but Bateman saved easily.

The game looked as if was heading for a 0-0 draw when Peterhead grabbed the lead with just ten minutes remaining. A Clark shot was parried by Nelson and Stewart was first to the rebound forcing the ball over the line from close-range.

City tried hard to get the equaliser but were unable to create any further clear-cut chances in front of goal.

Manager Jim Duffy said,

“ It was a very tight game as we thought it would be, and over the course of the 90 minutes I felt that both sides were fairly evenly matched.”

“ I thought that we were the better side in the first-half when we created two or three really good chances, but we didn’t take them and that came back to haunt us because after the break I felt that Peterhead were closing us down and although Craig Nelson didn’t really have any saves to make, they pressed the game and we fell out of things a little bit.”

“ I’m disappointed in losing the game because at the point where Peterhead scored, I would have taken the point because I felt that although we weren’t playing at our best, we were nevertheless quite secure and solid. Fair play to Peterhead though, John Stewart took his goal well and it shows how instinctive a player he is as he was first to re-act to the keeper’s save.”

“ I’m disappointed with the defeat as I felt it was a match we should have taken something from.”