Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City moved up into second place in the Second Division table after a hard-fought, but in the end, deserved 3-1 victory over Peterhead at the Glebe.

David McKenna scored a brace, bringing his league goal tally to five for the season with Jamie Redman adding the third goal just a couple of minutes from time. The real hero for City though was goalkeeper Craig Nelson who brought off a string of wonderful saves in the first-half when the Blue Toon were dominant. With the score at 2-1 in City’s favour in the second-half, the veteran keeper made a world-class save from Stuart Smith which ensured that his side went on to win the match.

One disappointing aspect of the victory was the sending-off of full-back Paul McLean for a second bookable offence which City supporters clearly thought was harsh, and he will now have to sit out Tuesday’s clash with Ayr United.

Manager Jim Weir made a couple of enforced changes to the side that had defeated Buckie Thistle last weekend.

David White and Mark Archdeacon replaced the suspended Gerry McGlauchlan and Rory McAllister, while there were places on the bench for new signing Daniel McKay and Jordan Kirkpatrick who was cup-tied last week.

City started brightly with good link-up play between the midfield and strikers, but the visitors gradually assumed control.

They should have opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Graeme Sharp fired in a 20 yard shot from the right which Nelson parried into the path of Dennis Wyness who seemed set to score but the big keeper somehow managed to palm Wyness’s net-bound shot away for a corner.

Nelson came to City’s rescue again just seven minutes later when he performed heroics to stop a certain goal from Davie Ross.

However, the Peterhead pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Ryan Strachan fired home from the edge of the box, his shot taking a slight deflection on its way into the net.

The Blue Toon had another great chance four minutes before the break when Wyness raced clear but he shot straight at the keeper.

City started the second-half with two changes with Archdeacon being replaced by McKay and Redman coming on for Janczyk and within seven minutes the home side were level with McKenna side-footing the ball home from close-range after good link-up play between Kevin Byers and Craig Molloy had created the opening.

City were now the team that were dominating and they scored again within eighteen minutes when McLean picked up the ball on the right and sent a pin-point cross into the box for McKenna whose header gave John Bateman in the Peterhead goal no chance.

Disaster however struck in the 76th minute when McLean was sent off by referee John Beaton for a second bookable offence after a tackle on Stuart Smith. It seemed a harsh decision by the referee which clearly incensed the City support.

The Blue Toon took advantage of the extra man and they should have scored the equaliser in the 83rd minute when a superb shot from Smith looked to be heading into the top corner of the net, but Nelson, somehow got across his goal to tip it over the bar.

This spurred on the home side and they wrapped up the points with just two minutes remaining when Redman tapped the ball home from two yards out after a great run and cross from Byers.


For video of Jim Weir's postmatch interview copy and paste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycYMnXLDKc4

for better quality version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugBQaOrmyNs

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