Match Report - By John Hoey

City went tumbling out of the first round of the Alba Cup after a controversial and incident-packed game against East Fife at Bayview Stadium.

Seven goals were scored in a game which went to extra-time after the sides were tied by 2-2 at the end of the ninety minutes.

City had seven players booked and Craig Nelson sent off by referee Thomas Robertson who also sent off East Fife substitute Lee Bryce.

Rory McAllister gave City the lead in the 27th minute but a 56th minute penalty converted by Robert Sloan after Bobby Linn had failed to convert another penalty just minutes before, levelled the match for the Fifers.

A goal two minutes from time from player-manager Stevie Crawford seemed to have wrapped up victory for the home side, but a wonderful 25 yard strike from skipper Neil Janczyk right on the final whistle sent the game into extra-time.

East Fife got their noses in front again three minutes into extra time when full-back Scott Durie scored but a header from centre-back Ewan Moyes eight minutes later levelled the match again for City.

However, a superb strike from Linn, a minute from the end of extra-time ensured victory for the Bayview men.

Brechin attacked straight from the kick-off and won a corner in the 3rd minute but Ewan Moyes headed Neil Janczyk’s kick just over the bar.

The Fifers were unlucky not to take the lead in the 7th minute when full-back Michael Deland picked up the ball 25 yards from goal wide on the left and fired in a spectacular drive which luckily for City rebounded off the post.

Craig Johnstone missed a glorious chance a couple of minutes later when he was straight through on goal but he scooped the ball wide of the target when he seemed certain to score.

However, City grabbed the lead in the 27th minute with a typically opportunist goal from Rory McAllister.

The striker collected a short pass from Gary Fusco in the box and forced his way past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball beyond Michael Brown into the bottom corner of the net.

The Fifers responded immediately, and a Bobby Linn shot from the edge of the box just went past Craig Nelson’s right-hand post.

With just three minutes of the half remaining, Paul Tansey picked up the ball on the left and fired in a shot which just missed the target by inches.

City went on the attack immediately after the re-start and great move on the left saw Calum Booth cross into the box for McAllister who volleyed the ball just past the post.

There was drama a minute later when City conceded a penalty after the ball appeared to be handled in the box but Bobby Linn was too direct with his shot and Nelson brought off a great save.

There was further drama three minutes later when Johnstone and Nelson raced for the ball in the penalty area with the East Fife player crashing to the ground as he attempted to get the ball. Referee Thomas Robertson immediately sent Nelson off and this time Robert Sloan made no mistake from the penalty-spot, sending his kick well beyond David Scott.

City were under the cosh at this stage but McAllister relieved the pressure in the 64th minute when he chased a long ball from defence and fired in a superb drive which cannoned off the bar.

The hosts though were pushing forward at every opportunity and a Linn volley just narrowly missed the target in the 77th minute and a couple of minutes later, player-manager Stevie Crawford headed a Scott Durie cross against the bar.

The Fifer’s pressure paid off with just a couple of minutes remaining when Crawford picked up the ball just at the edge of the box and moved forward before drilling a left-foot drive past Scott.

It looked all over for Brechin but they scored a dramatic equaliser just a minute later when skipper Neil Janczyk picked up the ball just within the East Fife half and took a couple of steps forward before unleashing a fantastic left-foot drive which sailed into the top corner of the net.

East Fife took the lead again within a couple of minutes of the start of extra-time when full-back Scott Durie collected the ball wide on the right and sent in a cross/cum shot which completely deceived Scott and ended up in the back of the net.

City though weren’t finished yet, and they scored another dramatic equaliser in the 101st minute when Moyes scooped a loose ball in the box over the head of Brown.

Both teams were now going all out for the winner, but there was further drama with three minutes remaining when East Fife substitute Lee Bryce was sent packing for lashing out at Paul McLean who was then booked by referee Robertson who had not endeared himself to City supporters with a number of his decisions.

With the game heading for penalties, East Fife scored what proved to be the winner, when a superb drive from Linn with just a minute remaining flew into the net giving Scott no chance.

City manager Jim Weir said,

“ I was disappointed with the way we started the game. We started off really slowly, were sloppy with our passing and were caught in possession on a few occasions and East Fife had a few efforts which thy might have done better with.”

“ We rode our luck in the opening twenty minutes and we scored against the run of play.”

“ I told the players at half-time that if they continued to perform the way they had then we would definitely struggle.”

“ I couldn’t fault the players for the character they showed. They were down to ten men and came back twice and looked as if they might go on to win the game.”

“ I’m disappointed because I want to win every game whether it’s a Challenge cup-tie or a training game because winning games breeds confidence. The team picks itself when it wins.”

“ I felt that we’d one or two terrific performances today, but equally I felt that there were two or three players who didn’t do themselves justice.”

“ We now have to pick them up in our Tuesday and Thursday training sessions next week because we’ve a big cup-tie next weekend which is an important game for the club and we have to be ready for it.”

Other Results - Alba Cup Round 1

Dundee 2 Alloa Athletic 1

Two Late Goals Give Dark Blues Victory

Dunfermline Athletic 1 Arbroath 0

Fifers Beat Arbroath By Single Goal

Elgin City 1 Ross County 2

County Win Highland Clash

Peterhead 5 Montrose 0

Gable Endies Hammered at Balmoor

Raith Rovers 0 Cowdenbeath 1

Cowden Win Fife Derby

Stirling Albion 0 Falkirk 0

Binos Beat Bairns On Penalties