Match Report - By John Hoey

STENHOUSEMUIR 1 BRECHIN CITY 1



The Warriors went on the attack straight from kick-off and Craig Nelson had to look sharp to keep out a header from Andy Rodgers within the first minute.

Stenny kept up the early pressure and a Stewart Kean header came back off the cross-bar just a couple of minutes later.

Brechin hit back and Craig Molloy tried a shot from the edge of the penalty-area but it lacked power and home keeper Chris McCluskey gathered easily.

The hosts should have grabbed the lead in the 17th minute when another Kean header from a Steve Murray cross looked net-bound but Nelson brought off a good save and the keeper was called into action just a minute later when he brought off a fine save from Rodgers.

The Warriors were exerting a lot of pressure and a Murray free-kick was parried by Nelson after 23 minutes.

Just when it looked as if the home side’s pressure might pay off, City hit back to open the scoring after 28 minutes.

Molloy and Hodge combined well to give the latter a scoring opportunity but he was brought down in the box by defender Wiilie Lyle who was merely booked by referee Brian Colvin when a red card for his last-man challenge might have been more a more appropriate decision.

Charlie King stepped up to blast the spot-kick past McCluskey.

Brechin hardly had time to celebrate when they were reduced to ten men just seven minutes later after another controversial decision by referee Colvin.

Warriors midfielder Eric Paton appeared to be legitimately challenged in the middle of the park by Hodge but to the consternation of the players and his team-mates the referee showed him the red card.

This gave a boost to Stenny and Nelson brought off another great save to deny Rodgers in the 37th minute but the big keeper could do nothing about the hosts’ equalising goal just three minutes later.

Full-back Sean Dickson picked up the ball on the left touchline and quickly cut inside to fire a glorious left-foot drive into the bottom corner of the net which gave Nelson absolutely no chance.

City re-grouped after the break with King dropping back into midfield, leaving Paul McManus as the only player up front.

Stenny threatened first and Nelson brought off another good save from a Dickson header within three minutes of the re-start.

City responded with a Neil Janczyk free-kick to McManus whose header was deflected for a corner and three minutes later a Murray cross from the right was headed over by Rodgers.

City’s tactics were paying off with the Warriors finding it difficult to carve out any openings.

City could have grabbed the lead in the 79th minute when a Janczyk pass sent Scott Smith away on the left and he crossed into the box for McManus, but the ex East Fife man couldn’t connect and McCluskey gathered.

City could have grabbed a dramatic winner deep into injury-time when the ball fell kindly for substitute Graham Weir but his shot was deflected for a corner.

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