Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 1 Dunfermline Athletic 1

Brechin City and SPL new boys Dunfermline Athletic shared the spoils in an entertaining friendly at Glebe Park last night.

The Pars who included ex Celtic player Stephen O'Donnell as a trialist at right-back scored the opener through Andy Kirk after 27 minutes but City veteran Charlie King, playing his first game since breaking his leg almost exactly a year ago scored the equaliser from the penalty-spot in the 82nd minute.

City went on the attack straight from the kick-off and Pars keeper Paul Gallacher had to look sharp to keep out a deflected Gary Fusco drive after just four minutes.

The visitors first scoring opportunity came after 18 minutes when they won a free-kick at the edge of the City box but Martin Hardie's kick was easily saved by Craig Nelson.

Brechin responded immediately and a David McKenna shot was held by Gallacher with Scott Buist heading a Garry Brady corner just past the post three minutes later.

The Pars though broke the deadlock after 27 minutes with a simply worked goal.

Joe Cardie played a good pass beyond the City defence to Andy Kirk who calmly dispatched a low drive beyond Nelson.

On the stroke of half-time a Cardle shot from the edge of the box was palmed away for a corner by Nelson.

Both sides made changes at the beginning of the second-half with David Scott, Derek Carcary and Brian Fairbairn replacing Nelson, McKenna and Craig Molloy for City with Liam Buchanan coming on for Andy Barrowman for the visitors.

The visitors should have doubled their lead in the 58th when a good pass from Kirk created an oportunity for Buchanan, but he fired past the post with the goal at his mercy and Kirk hooked a close-range shot past the same post six minutes later.

Dunfermline were controlling the game as the half wore on and they had a further opportunity in the 77th minute when Buchanan headed a Paul Willis cross wide of the target.

City though levelled the match from the penalty-spot five minutes later.

Pars keeper Gallacher brought Fairbairn down in a race for the ball in the penalty-area and City sub Charlie King who had replaced Paul McManus made no mistake from the resultant penalty-kick.

With a couple of minutes remaining, Neil Janczyk fired a free-kick from the edge of the box just over the crossbar.