Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City stopped league leaders Livingston’s winning run, sharing a point apiece after a hard-fought draw at Almondvale.

A draw was probably the correct result at the end of the day and although Livi had the lion’s share of possession, particularly in the first-half, City defended well and had a couple of chances to win the match themselves.

Manager Jim Weir made three changes from the side that had started against Alloa on Tuesday night.

Jamie Redman had failed to recover from injury and was replaced on the right side of midfield by Gary Fusco while David McKenna and Kevin Byers dropped to the bench, being replaced by Mitch Megginson and Jordan Kirkpatrick.

The first chance fell to Livingston in the 11th minute.

Keaghan Jacobs pushed forward into the City penalty-box, neatly beat Andrew Cook and fired in a shot which was knocked away for a corner by Gerry McGlauchlan.

In the 17th minute, Neil Janczyk gave the ball away in the middle of the park to Liam Fox who ran forward and tried a shot from 20 yards but Craig Nelson saved well.

Fox had another long-range effort in the 24th minute but it was wide of the target.

Livi came close again a couple of minutes later when a great through ball from Joe Hamill gave Kyle Jacobs a scoring opportunity but his shot went narrowly past the post.

City’s first chance came in the 33rd minute when they won a free-kick around 20 yards from goal.

Janczyk delivered a good cross into the box which McGlauchlan headed past.

Former City favourite Iain Russell had a go for the hosts with five minutes of the half remaining but his effort sailed over the bar and a couple of minutes later, Craig Barr stole behind the City defence and powered in a header, but it also was wide of the target.

Livi pressed immediately on the restart and a Barr header from a Fox corner went just past the post in the 47th minute.

City responded immediately and Rory McAllister did really well to deliver a cross into the box from the right touchline under severe pressure which was just missed by Mitch Megginson.

Fox made room for himself in the Brechin box in the 52nd minute and tried a right-foot shot, but it was again high and wide.

Great play from Keaghan Jacobs in the 61st minute provided a chance for Kenny Deuchar but the striker’s shot lacked pace and Nelson saved easily.

A minute later, City made a couple of changes with David McKenna and Daniel McKay replacing Megginson and Kirkpatrick.

Livi had a great chance in the 72nd minute when substitute Raffaele De Vita, who had replaced Deuchar just five minutes earlier fired in a close-range angular drive which Nelson did well to save.

Russell scorned an even better chance three minutes later when he hit the post when he was clean through on goal with the City defence howling for offside.

McAllister did well to get in a shot in the 83rd minute under extreme pressure but Tony Bullock saved easily and a couple of minutes later, McKay shot just wide of the target.

In the final minute, Janczyk sent a glorious left-foot drive just over the bar.

For Interview with Jim Weir, please paste the following link into your browser

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For Gary Bollan interview, copy and paste the following link

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