Match Report - By John Hoey

AIRDRIE UNITED 4 BRECHIN CITY 1


Brechin City face an almighty fight to avoid the Third Division Relegation Play-Offs after a 4-1 defeat from high-flying Airdrie United at Excelsior Stadium.

City’s defeat, coupled with shock wins for Forfar and Albion Rovers at Arbroath and East Fife respectively means that they are just four points in front of the Loons and Rovers with just three games of the league campaign remaining.

City found themselves three goals down within the first 23 minutes and they never recovered from this opening set-back. They did have opportunities in the first-half to reduce the deficit before substitute Bryan Hodge pulled a goal back just after the half-hour and although they had a couple of decent chances after the break, they didn’t take them and a further goal from the Diamonds rubbed salt into the wounds.

Manager Jim Weir made four changes to the team that started against Stirling Albion.

Gerry McGlauchlan and Jonny Lindsay returned in defence at the expense of Scot Buist and Mick Dunlop while Paul McManus who was rated as extremely doubtful before the game was in his usual striker’s position, replacing David McKenna who dropped to the bench, while Gary Fusco came in for Bryan Hodge in midfield.

City started the game reasonably well playing some good football in the opening stages, but the hosts, who were looking for their sixth straight victory were playing with a lot of confidence and they sailed into a three-goal lead after just 23 minutes.

The first goal came in the 7th minute when the league’s top scorer, Ryan Donnelly found himself in space in the City penalty-box and he squared the ball across the City goalmouth to Derek Holmes who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the net.

The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later with a wonderful strike from Donnelly.

With his back to the goal the striker showed great control of the ball before swivelling round and firing home a superb right-foot drive.

City had barely recovered from this blistering opening spell before they found themselves trailing to a further goal.

When the ball was played into the City penalty-box, referee Steven McLean adjudged Paul McLean to have pushed Nathan Blockley, and Paul Lovering stepped up to blast the resultant spot-kick beyond Craig Nelson to give his side a three goal lead.

City though pulled a goal back in the 31st minute.

Paul McManus picked up the ball on the right and swung a cross into the Airdrie box and Bryan Hodge, who had replaced Charlie King eight minutes earlier dived low to head the ball beyond Grant Adam in the Diamonds goal.

City had a further chance six minutes later when Jonny Lindsay picked up the ball on the left and pushed forward before delivering a great cross into the box for Hodge who shot wide of the target and a couple of minutes before the break, Craig Molloy slipped the ball through to McManus who steered the ball wide of Adam’s left-hand post.

The second-half was evenly contested with City again having further opportunities to reduce the deficit.

In the 54th minute, Molloy headed a Hodge cross straight into Adam’s arms and in the 67th minute, another good Hodge cross was headed over the bar by Ewan Moyes.

Moyes came close again six minutes later when he headed yet another cross from Hodge straight at the keeper.

The hosts though always looked dangerous when they moved forward and they wrapped up the points just four minutes from the end when Holmes notched his second and his team’s fourth goal when he headed home a flick from subnstitute Liam Watt.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Arbroath 0 Forfar Athletic 1

Great Away Win For Loons at Gayfield

Dumbarton 0 Stenhousemuir 2

Warriors Overcome Sons

East Fife 1 Albion Rovers 2

Rovers Grab Vital Three Points at New Bayview

Stirling Albion 0 Cowdenbeath 2

Blue Brazil Move Closer to Title