Match Report - By John Hoey

BRECHIN CITY 1 STENHOSUEMUIR 0


On-loan striker Rory McKenzie scored his second goal in two games to seal a vital win for City against Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park last night.

The victory, which moves City up to fifth place in the Second Division table and within two points of fourth placed Stenny came at a huge cost though.

Jim Lister picked up a recurrence of an injury in the pre-match warm-up and had to be replaced from the bench by David McKenna who in turn was replaced by Charlie King who’s still feeling the effects of a calf injury and worse was to follow as Ewan Moyes had to leave the field early in the second-half while his replacement – David McClune also had to come off after sustaining an injury.

Manager Jim Weir confirmed after the game that Lister, Moyes, King and McClune will all miss Saturday’s match against league leaders Cowdenbeath at Central Park while there is also a doubt about defender Mick Dunlop who had to sit out last night’s game. With Gerry McGlauchlan and Derek Carcary also unavailable for Saturday it’s pretty obvious the manager doesn’t have his problems to seek.

He was however pleased with his side’s victory against the Warriors.

“ I was delighted with the players attitude tonight,” he said.

“ Stenny are on a good run and their front two players caused us problems but we kept our shape and our discipline and the players showed a lot of heart and I’m absolutely delighted with the three points.”

The first-half was hard-fought and evenly contested.

Stenny had the first opportunity after just five minutes when ex-Dundee midfielder Paul McHale had a shot from around 12 yards tipped over the bar by Craig Nelson.

In the 17th minute, Sean Dickson fired in a shot from just within the penalty-area which just missed the target and a minute later a 25 yard shot from Stewart Kean was easily gathered by Nelson.

City fought their way back into the game and on-loan Kilmarnock striker Rory McKenzie pushed forward into the visitors’ box in the 24th minute and fired in a shot but Ally Brown saved easily.

City came close again three minutes later when Bryan Hodge collected the ball at the edge of the box and swivelled around before firing in a shot which went just over the bar and seconds later at the other end a Kean shot was palmed away for a corner by Nelson.

City though picked up the initiative again and Scot Buist was unlucky to see a header deflected for a corner and a minute later, Paul McLean weaved his way into the Warriors box and tried a shot which went past Brown’s right-hand post.

The visitors had an early opportunity after the break when Gary Smith played a good ball into the box for Kean who steered his shot just wide of the target.

City had a half-chance in the 68th minute when David McKenna headed a Garry Brady corner just over the bar.

The hosts though made the vital breakthrough just a minute later.

Paul McManus collected a throw-in on the left and played the ball to McKenzie who took a couple of touches before firing home the winner into the far corner of the net.

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