Match Report - By John Hoey

BRECHIN CITY 1 ARBROATH 1


Brechin City and Arbroath shared the honours after and entertaining and competitive derby match at Glebe Park.

The Lichties opened the scoring in the 71st minute through Steven Doris but City fought back and deservedly equalised through Paul McLean, (his first goal of the season) ten minutes from time.

City definitely had the better of the exchanges in the opening 45 minutes while Arbroath had more of the possession and pressure after the break and at the end of the day, a draw was probably the right result.

Jim Weir made a number of changes to the side that drew with Airdrie United on Saturday.

Out of the manager’s starting line-up were David McClune, Craig Molloy (suspended), David McKenna and Jim Lister.

Johnny Lindsay and Rory McKenzie were handed their debuts while Ewan Moyes and Gary Fusco also came into the team.

City started strongly, and they had good claims for a penalty dismissed by referee John Beaton after only six minutes, when Rory McKenzie appeared to be impeded in the box by Stuart Malcolm.

The hosts kept up the pressure and Bryan Hodge had a shot from the edge of the box saved by Darren Hill after quarter of an hour and a minute later a good cross into the penalty area from Gary Fusco was headed away for a corner by Brian Kerr.

Arbroath though began to exert some pressure themselves and a 20 yard shot from player-manager Paul Sheerin was blocked by the City defence in the 23rd minute.

Arbroath were enjoying a sustained period of pressure at this point and in the 26th minute an in-swinging corner from the left from Gavin Swankie was headed just wide by Craig Wedderburn.

City hit back though and a Paul McLean cross into the box a minute later was just missed by Paul McManus.

The Lichties were desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark when a superb 25 yard drive from Josh Falkingham hit the base of the post before being cleared and five minutes before the break, Steven Doris was unlucky not to connect with a Sheerin corner from the right.

The visitors seized the initiative at the beginning of the second-half and pushed forward in an effort to score the opening goal, but the City defence, superbly marshalled by Mick Dunlop were giving little away and the Lichties were unable to carve out any clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.

City though weathered the early storm and began to force their way back into the game and they scored what they thought was the opener in the 70th minute when Paul McManus fired home from close-range, but referee Beaton disallowed the goal, apparently for offside.

The Lichties though hit right-back and broke the deadlock with a simple goal from Doris in the 71st minute.

Gavin Swankie won the ball at the edge of the box and cut it back for his fellow striker who slotted the ball home from around 4 yards out.

This goal stung City into action and sub David McKenna tried a shot from the edge of the box a couple of minutes later but Darren Hill saved easily.

City kept pushing forward in an effort to score the equaliser and they got the reward their play deserved ten minutes from the end.

McManus played a short pass from just within the box to full-back Paul Mclean who took a touch before unleashing a terrific drive into the top corner of the net, leaving Hill helpless.

The Lichties pushed forward towards the City goal in the closing minutes and a shot from Sheerin was well saved by Nelson with a couple of minutes remaining but City held on for a valuable point.

Brechin assistant manager Kevin McGowne said,

“ I was delighted with our reaction after Arbroath scored the opening goal and pleased that we won a deserved point.”

“ We still have a number of midweek games to play which is difficult for the players but we remain determined to win a place in the play-offs.”

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Cowdenbeath 3 Albion Rovers 0

Comfortable Win for Blue Brazil

Forfar Athletic 1 Dumbarton 1

All-Square at Station Park