Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin moved comfortably into the Second Round of the CIS Cup after a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview this afternnon.

First-Half goals from Ewan Moyes and Craig Molloy cancelled out the Warriers early opener and a further goal early in the second-half from Rory McAllister wrapped up victory.

City made three changes from last Saturday's starting eleven with David Scott replacing the injured Craig Nelson in goal, David McKenna replacing Charlie King who was attending a family wedding and Mark Docherty coming in for Gary Fusco who hadn't fully shaken off an injury.

Stenny went on the attack straight from the opening whistle and came close to opening the scoring after three minutes when Grant Anderson fired in a shot from the edge of the box which David Scott did well to save.

City won a free-kick three minutes later when McKenna was fouled eighteen yards from goal but Neil Janczyk's kick was headed just past the post by Gerry McGlauchlan

However the hosts grabbed the lead two minutes later with a poor goal from City's point of view.

Calum Booth headed a chip into the box back into the path of Scott but Anderson intercepted to steer the ball into the net.

City tried to hit back straight away and a good move between Barry Smith and Janczyk ended with McAllister drilling in a shot from 15 yards which just missed the target.

However, City were deservedly level in 17 minutes.

Booth passed into the box for Moyes who hammered home a right-foot drive which took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

The visitors almost made it two eight minutes later when McKenna outstripped the home defence and tried a lob which went just over the bar.

However, City took the lead three minutes later with a fine goal.

McKenna raced clear of the home defence and fired in a shot. Former City keeper Chris McCluskey brought off a superb save but Craig Molloy was on hand to head the rebound into the net.

City forced the pace immediately after the re-start and a good run and shot from Booth in the 52nd minute brought off a good save from McCluskey.

McAllister though made it three a couple of minutes later with a great goal.

Picking the ball up wide on the right, the striker bore in on goal , weaving his way past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner of the net.

Docherty almost made it four a couple of minutes later when he tried a chip from the edge of the box but McCluskey brought off another great save to deny him.

City were totally in control of the game. The defence were well on top, the midfield were dictating play while the strikers were posing a constant threat to the home defence.

In the 76th minute, a great piece of dribbling from Paul McLean saw him beat one defender then another before he crossed into the box for Janczyk whose netbound shot was blocked by the Stenny defence and McLean was in the thick of the action again just six minutes later when he just failed to connect with a good cross from the right from McAllister.

With four minutes remaining a great 50 yard run from Booth ended with the full-back just shooting over the bar.

At the end of the game it was announced that Gerry McGlauchlan had been awarded the sponsor's Man of The Match Award for an outstanding performance.

City manager Jim Weir said,

“ We’d a wee early setback losing the goal but I always felt that we’d enough quality within our team to cause the opposition problems.”

“ The good thing about losing a goal so early was that we’d plenty of time to get back into the game and I was delighted with the goals that we got and I felt that we might even have scored a couple more but I’m just delighted to be in the next round.”

“ I thought that defensively, not just the back four and the goalkeeper but the strikers and the guys in the middle of the park as well, I thought that they did very well and I was delighted with their effort.”

“ This is a competition which is important to the club and we can now look forward to the draw next week.”

Stenhousemuir boss John Coughlin said,

“ We had loads and loads of possession and played a lot of football across the park without much penetration.”

“ We got off to a great start, lost a ridiculous goal and then lost another two goals and I’ll be speaking to the players shortly about why we lost those goals because that was the difference between the teams.”

“ When you give players of the quality of McAllister chances like we gave him, particularly the third goal then he’s going to take them.”

“ We’ve only got ourselves to blame. I couldn’t ask any more of the players who tried to pass the ball. However, it doesn’t matter how much of the ball you’ve got, if the opposition get the cheap goals that they got today then they’re going to win the match.”