Match Report - By John Hoey

BRECHIN CITY 3 DUMBARTON 0


Brechin City booked their passage into the 4th round of the Scottish Cup after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over fellow Second Division side Dumbarton

Jim Weir’s men fully deserved their victory and produced their best performance of the season to overcome the Sons with goals from Craig Molloy, new club captain Charlie King and Paul McManus clinching victory.

City started the game with a number of changes from last week’s side.

David McClune came in at left-back for Scott Smith with Garry Brady and David McKenna replacing Neil Janczyk and Gary Fusco (who had suffered a family bereavement earlier in the week) while Jim Lister and new skipper King led the attack.

Both sides pushed forward in search of an early goal and City came closest to opening the scoring after 11 minutes when a Lister head-flick sent King in the clear.

The striker made a bee-line for goal and appeared to be nudged off the ball by visitors keeper Jamie Ewings but referee John Beaton waved play on.

City kept pressing and they got their reward when they scored the opener in the 26th minute.

Lister headed the ball beyond the visitors defence into the path of David McKenna whose shot was blocked but Molloy was on hand to blast the rebound into the top corner of the net.

City continued to force the pace after the break and they were desperately unlucky not to double their lead on the hour mark when a 25 yard screamer from Bryan Hodge was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ewings.

The visitors weren’t out of it by any means and Craig Nelson had to bring off a superb save , tipping a David Winters shot round the post in the 64th minute.

City kept up the pressure and Ewings brought off a point-blank save to deny McKenna three minutes later.

City’s pressure just had to pay off and they booked their passage into the next round of the cup with a superb goal from King in the 79th minute.

“ Chucky” collected a throw-in from McClune on the left hand side of the box and swivelled round before firing home a terrific right-foot drive which soared into the bottom corner of the net.

With two minutes remaining, Bryan Prunty was brought down in the box but Nelson performed heroics when he saved Mark Gilhaney’s spot-kick and City went straight up-field to score their third and final goal when substitute Paul McManus slotted the ball home.



Click here for postmatch interviews with Jim Weir and Charlie King
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