Match Report - By Reporter

ONE of Jim Weir's summer signings, brought in as a defender, made his
mark further up the field in Saturday's comprehensive 4-0 victory over
Montrose at Glebe Park, as Brechin City ran out comfortable winners in
this Forfarshire Cup tie.

Left-back Calum Booth, not only netted two top drawer goals, he played a
huge part in winning City a penalty and spent more time in around the
Montrose penalty area than he did his own in a highly accomplished
display.

The visitors actually started the game positively and competed well for
the first half hour. Brechin got their noses in front after eight
minutes, when Charlie King was allowed to pick the ball up in a deep
position and run anchallenged through the heart of the Montrose defence,
before firing home the opener.

Montrose had a glorious opportunity to level the score in the 19th
minute. A cross from the right from their "Trialist" found
player-manager, Steven Tweed, unmarked at the far post. However, his
header back across the face of goal bounced past the upright.
Montrose went even closer seconds later when a long through ball caught
out the centre of the City defence and Nicky Smith attempted a deft lob,
which beat Craig Nelson, but rebounded back off the post.

The Montrose goal then had its own miraculous escape when first of all
David McKenna's effort was superbly saved from close range by Sandy
Wood. The rebound fell to Craig Molloy who made a good connection, but
struck the foot of the post.

Brechin made it two nil with a great strike from Booth in the 33rd
minute. The left-back showed great awareness and composure befor picking
his spot with a 25-yeard screamer, which Wood simply watched fly into
the net.

Two minutes later, Booth's attacking prowess won City a penalty. The
left-back took on Smith inside the Montrose box and the Montrose
midfield man needlessly dived into a tackle and brought Booth down.
Charlie King made no mistake from the spot, drilling the ball straight
down the middle.

Wood once again denied David McKenna, after the striker had made space
for himself inside the Montrose box. The Montrose goalkeeper pulling off
another excellent save.

Five minutes from the interval, Booth produced another excellent
left-foot strike, on this occassion, from around 30 yards out. Sean
Crighton stuck out a leg, but couldn't prevent the ball sailing into the
net off the inside of the post.

Daft as it may sound City hadn't been as fluent and as clinical as they
had been in their previous two games. However, they left the field at
half-time with a thoroughly deserved 4-0 lead and the game in the bag.

The second half was something of a training exercise. Montrose reverted
to a more rigid 4-4-2 set up and while there were still a number of goal
scoring chances, they weren't nearly as many as were produced during the
first period.

The usual spate of substititions as befits pre-season matches came and
went. Montrose produced little in the way of a goal threat in the second
period. Sandy Wood once again stole the show as far as the visitors were
concerned. He produced another excellent save to deny David Mckenna once
again, after the striker had got on the end of a cross from substitute
Gary Fusco.

Good approach play from Craig Molly and Charlie King also presented sub
Mark Docherty with a chance, but he fired over from around 25 yards.

Both sides, having committed three substitutes apeice, went down to ten
men. Montrose first of all losing their "Trialist" through injury and
Brechin losing centre-half Ewan Moyes, who limped off with a knock.

Paul McLean showed good close control to turn his man inside the
visitor's penalty area. However, his shot on goal hit the side netting.
Gary Fusco was next to go close. He played a clever one-two with Charlie
King and curled the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper, but just
past the far post.

Fittingly for Montrose, it was goalkeeper Sandy Wood, who had the last
word in this encounter, after McLean had found Docherty inside the box

Booth took star billing for Brechin and King andMolloy were involved in
much of their side's positive football.