Match Report - By Keith Johnston

After a poor couple of weeks, Brechin entertained Stirling Albion at Glebe Park looking to get back to winning ways. Stirling have had an up and down season, but sat third when the sides kicked off. Play was made possible by some good work clearing the pitch yesterday, but that came at the expense of marks from tractor wheels being left all over the pitch.
Ian Campbell made three changes to the team that played Berwick last week. Suspended Scott Walker was replaced by David White. Grant Johnson and Steven Ferguson also came in, at the expense of Craig Winter and Paul Ritchie who dropped down to the bench.

Brechin came out meaning business and took a deserved lead in the third minute. A Stuart Callaghan corner was cleared back out to the former Alloa man. His second cross fell to Steve Hampshire at the far post, who played a one-two with David White and picked his spot in the far corner.
Six minutes later, a good move almost saw Brechin double their advantage. Grant Johnson did well to get to the byline and pick out Stuart Callaghan with the cut-back, but Callaghan lost his footing at the vital moment and fluffed the shot.
However, City only had to wait until the 15th minute before getting a second goal. Stirling conceded a free-kick on the half way lane that was booted forward by James Sharp. The ball found its way to Steve Hampshire on the right wing and his cross was flicked on by Graham Gibson to David White who powered his header home at the far post. Hogarth was able to get a hand on it, but not enough to prevent the ball crossing the line.
Still inside the first 25 minutes, Brechin managed to get themselves a third goal. Stirling failed to clear decisively, allowing Stuart Callaghan to find Graham Gibson. He in turn picked out Steve Hampshire who notched his second of the afternoon with a crisp strike.
Four minutes later, Stirling responded with a shot from distance by Robert Dunn but Craig Nelson watched it go comfortably over the bar.
City should have had the game dead and buried by now, but let the visitors back into the game by conceding a sloppy goal. James Sharp took his eye off the ball, allowing Dunn a run at goal. He passed inside to Paul Di Giacomo who made no mistake from inside the box.
After the Stirling goal, City never really picked up their rhythm again in the first half and half time was welcome with the score at 3-1.

Having been 3-0 up after 25 minutes, serious questions would have needed to be asked if City had let this game slip. But Stirling weren’t going to lie down and they reduced the deficit to a single goal in the 51st minute. Chris Aitken picked up the ball 25 yards out after Brechin had failed several times to clear their lines. His shot was a beauty - right in the postage stamp, giving Craig Nelson no chance.
Brechin responded quickly with a couple of efforts on goal. First, Charlie King’s half-volley went over and then Gibson found Steve Hampshire in a good position, but his shot was blocked.
Moments later, it was very nearly 3-3. Kevin MacDonald played a dangerous ball into the channel between keeper and defenders that James Sharp was relieved to head over under pressure from Di Giacomo.
But you don’t get anything for a near miss, and Brechin got a fourth goal within minutes of that chance. Graham Gibson went on a run down the right wing and picked out Charlie King at the far post. He met the ball first time on the volley and couldn’t have asked to hit is sweeter – that ball rifling into the bottom corner, giving Hogarth no chance.
Stirling still showed they weren’t going to lie down though and set about clawing back the deficit again. Chris Aitken’s 58th minute corner resulted in a scrambled clearance off the line.
However, a minute later City made it 5-2. Graham Gibson played the ball through to Steve Hampshire and continued his run. “Hamps” dragged the defender wide, picked out Gibby’s run and he did the rest with a neat finish.
City went looking for more goals and nearly got one when Grant Johnson played a superb through-ball for Stuart Callaghan who was one on one with the goalkeeper. He struggled to get himself into a comfortable stride though, perhaps because of the heavy pitch, and the eventual shot was straight at Hogarth.
With 20 minutes remaining, City let the visitors back into the game again. Substitute Craig Winter conceded a soft penalty at the corner of the box. He merely hung his leg out to dry allowing Robert Dunn to obligingly trip over it. Dunn bounced back up to take the spot-kick himself, sending Craig Nelson the wrong way.
But to be fair, City dealt with pretty much everything that was thrown at them for the remainder of the game. There were a few anxious moments and City were often guilty of playing too much football at the back, but by and large Stirling were kept at bay until the final whistle.
City looked more likely to extend their advantage than relinquish it and had Steve Hampshire, lively as ever, looking for a second hat-trick of the season. He almost got it in the 71st minute after being set up by Paul Ritchie, but his effort went narrowly wide.
Four minutes later, Manny Panther supplied Hampshire with a good chance, but the ball bobbled up at the vital moment causing him to mis-kick the shot.
Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Grant Johnson played a great through-ball to Paul Ritchie, but his effort hit the side-netting.
Stirling nearly got a goal back two minutes later after a miscommunication between Nelson and Sharp, but substitute Martin Glancy (remember him?) put the shot wide.
That turned out to be the real last chance of the game and the referee blew for full time after a very brief period of stoppage time.

Overall, there were more positives than negatives to come out of the game. The result is what matters and three points against third in the league is always welcome. City scored some good goals today; Steve Hampshire scored two of them and deservedly received the man of the match award. There were also good performances from the likes of Johnson, Ferguson and Deas. However, Ian Campbell will likely be upset at the way his side kept letting Stirling back into the game when it should have been beyond them.

Elsewhere today, Morton won the big game against Stranraer meaning Brechin now have a five point cushion at the top of Division 2, and are 13 points clear of the Ton in third. Next, City travel to Dumbarton on Tuesday in a re-arranged fixture. The players will hopefully have a point to prove to their hosts after the recent defeat and poor performance at Glebe Park. While City are in action at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Stranraer have a difficult looking trip to Berwick. Sandy Clark’s men followed up their win over City last week with a victory over Ayr today, and may not be certainties for relegation yet. Everything to play for!

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Alloa Athletic 0 Forfar Athletic 2

Forfar win but stay in the relegation zone.

Arbroath 2 Dumbarton 1

Abroath continue their recent good form with a win over Dumbarton.

Ayr United 0 Berwick Rangers 1

Good result from Berwick who are by no means certainties for the drop.

Morton 2 Stranraer 0

Morton move up to third with a victory over Stranraer.