Match Report - By Steven Mew

After 3 long months the season 05/06 is finally here as Brechin took on Clyde in the Bell’s Cup. It was a new look Clyde that visited the Glebe, no fewer than 23 new faces had joined the Cumbernauld side during the summer.

Craig Nelson started between the sticks while Pinky opted for a back four of Gary Bollan, Paul Deas, Scott Walker and Craig McEwan. The midfield consisted of Stuart Callaghan, Grant Johnson, Kevin Byers and Charlie King while Paul Ritchie and Steven Hampshire started upfront.

In the opening minute or so Brechin passed the ball about well and created an opening for Paul Ritchie, but the veteran hooked the ball well over the bar. However, Clyde went straight up the park and opened the scoring. A fine passing move saw the ball fall kindly for Alex Williams inside the box and the former Morton striker made no mistake, slamming the ball pas Craig Nelson to give the Bully Wee an early lead. Not the start to the season Pink would have hoped for.

Despite the early set-back, Brechin played the ball around the park well and a nicely worked move saw Stuart Callaghan strike well over the bar. But after 16 minutes Brechin got the equaliser they deserved. Craig McEwan made a clever run down the right hand side before unleashing a cross which was knocked in by Paul Ritchie at the back post.

Shortly after, Stuart Callaghan spotted Clyde keeper Paul Jarvie off his line and tried his luck by lobbing the goalkeeper from the half way line, but the ball just dipped over the bar. As the 1st half drew to a close Clyde were enjoying more possession and a few chances came their way, but all sailed harmlessly wide.

Just into the second half, Kevin Byers was teed up just outside the box and went for goal but his shot deflected off of a defender and into the hands of Paul Jarvie. At the end Clyde came close with a lob but the ball ended on the roof of the net.

Mid-way through the second half, Charlie King went on a fantastic mazy run which saw him get past 3 Clyde defenders and curl the ball past Paul Jarvie, only to be denied by the post.

For the next 15 minutes or so Clyde enjoyed most of the possession and created several chances. First of all a shot that just went past the post and another which was blocked twice by Brechin defenders.

At the other end, Brechin were denied a stonewall penalty as the ball appeared to come off of a Clyde defender’s hand, but the referee waved away claims.

Just 11 minutes from time, Brechin were in the lead for the first time, albeit against the run of play. A cross from the right was headed in by Graham Gibson. However, the lead was short lived as Clyde equalised 5 minutes from time as Neil McGregor nodded in at the far post to send the game into extra time.

Extra time was fairly uneventful, but right at the end of the first half Craig McEwan whipped in an inviting cross from the right which was met by Steven Hampshire at the back post, who nodded into the net to give City a lead for the second time.
In the closing minutes Brechin kept hold of the ball in the Clyde half before the referee finally blew his whistle.

Overall, a decent shift by Brechin against an energetic Clyde side. Grant Johnson was awarded Man of the Match while Scott Walker and Craig McEwan played superbly at the back to keep Clyde’s strike force at bay.

Other Results - Bell's Cup Round 1

Arbroath 1 Stranraer 3

Local rivals Arbroath defeated by Stranraer.

Ayr United 0 Stirling Albion 1

Ayr beaten by Stirling after extra time.

East Fife 0 Stenhousemuir 4

Fifers soundly beaten by Stenny.

Morton 3 Gretna 2

Morton beat big spenders Gretna after extra time.

Partick Thistle 2 Cowdenbeath 0

Dick Campbells side safely through to the 2nd round.

Peterhead 1 Berwick Rangers 2

Berwick sneak win up north after extra time.

Queen of the South 4 Albion Rovers 0

QoS defeat Albion comfortably.

Queen's Park 0 Hamilton Academical 3

Easy win for Hamilton.

Raith Rovers 3 Elgin City 1

Raith beat Elgin after extra time.

Ross County 2 Montrose 1

Montrose took the lead but Ross County fought back to win.

St Johnstone 2 Alloa Athletic 0

Straight forward win for the Saints.

St Mirren 1 Forfar Athletic 0

The buddies edge out Forfar.