Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City were in seventh heaven this afternoon after trouncing Stenhousemuir by 7-2 at Glebe Park.

A hat-trick from Alan Trouten was the highlight in a scintillating City performance.

City didn't have a weakness. Thjey were strong in defence, imaginative and adaptable in midfield and dangerous up front and the result gives new manager Ray McKinnon his second victory on the trot and no doubt a great deal of satisfaction and pride in the way his team set about their task this afternoon. The Warriors had no answer to City's second-half onslaught which must have delighted the home support who will hopefully now come out in greater numbers if City can continue this level of performance.

The City boss kept faith with the side that beat Stranraer by 3-0 the previous Saturday, the only change coming on the bench with Johnny Stewart replacing Ross Fisher.

Both sides started the game postively and there were near things at either end until the 9th minute when City grabbed the lead.

Trouten played a superb ball down the right to KURTIS BYRNE who kept his composure well before drawing Warriors keeper Robbie Thomson and then slotting the ball past the keeper into the net.

Both sides then had their fair share of possession and pressure but City were shocked in the 29th minute when the Warriors equalised.

Craig Nelson uncharacteristically misjudged a Sean Dickson cross from the left and the ball fell perfectly for JOHN GEMMELL who blasted home from close-range.

City didn't let this blow dishearten them and they regained the advantage just after the half-hour mark.

Andy Jackson collected the ball just at the edge of the visitors penalty-box and fired in a shot which came back off the post and then rolled along the goal-line and it was TROUTEN who was first to re-act slotting the ball home from around three yards out.

City continued to press and they got their reward with a further goal three minutes before the break.

A Jackson header from a Byrne cross was parried by Thomson into the path of TROUTEN who again made no mistake from close-range.

City supporters appetites must have been whetted by the opening 45 minutes performance but they were shocked when the Warriors reduced the deficit ten minutes into the second-half.

Former Forfar full-back Greg Ross made ground on the right and crossed perfectly into the box for SEAN DICKSON who powered home a header.

City again, didn't let their heads go down and they regained the initiative eight minutes later.

A Johnny Brown cross from the left was flicked on by Byrne into the path of TROUTEN who completed his first ever senior hat-trick by thundering an unstoppable angular drive into the bottom corner of the net.

City now had the bit between their teeth and they wnt three goals up a couple of minutes later.

Byrne was clean through on goal when he was upended in the box by Stenny midfielder Brown Ferguson who was then promptly shown the red card by referee Steven McLean and DAVID McKENNA made no mistake with the resultant spot-kick.

City were now on easy street and they made it six in the 82nd minute.

A Trouten shot was parried by keeper Thomson into the path of substitute DEREK CARCARY wide on the right and the ex Dumbarton man coolly lobbed the ball into the net.

There was no stopping th hosts now, and goal number seven arrived just a couple of minutes later when CARCARY fired home a left-foot drive from just outside the box.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Alloa Athletic 5 Albion Rovers 1

Albion Hit For Five at Recreation Park

Ayr United 2 Arbroath 0

Honest Men Too Good for Lichties

Stranraer 4 Forfar Athletic 1

Heavy Defeat for Loons at Stair Park