Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City went down to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park.

First-half goals from David Rowson and Jamie Reid gave the Warriors a 2-0 half-time advantage and although City pulled a goal back with quarter of an hour remaining, the hosts couldn't get a late equaliser.

The result confirms that City will almost certainly finish in 3rd position in the Irn Bru Second Division table while the Warriors must now beat Stranraer at home next Saturday and hope that both Arbroath and Forfar both lose if they are to claim the final play-off position.

Manager Ray McKinnon as predicted, rested a number of first-team regulars. Alan Trouten, Derek Carcary and Ryan Ferguson were all on the bench alongside Aaron Murdoch and young keeper Ben Tough while Johnny Brown, Ewan Moyes and Gary Fusco were rested.

Stenny started the game without the injured ex City defender Scot Buist and the suspended John Gemmell.

City took a while to find their feet and they fell behind after just eight minutes when former Aberdeen and Partick Thistle midfielder David Rowson collected a defensive clearance at the edge of the box before rifling home the opener, giving Michael Andrews absolutely no chance.

Stenny continued to press although City had a half-chance after 20 minutes when Ryan Stewart headed a good cross from Alex Pursehouse just over the bar.

The visitors were looking good though every time they moved forward and they doubled their lead just after the half-hour when Jamie Reid collected a neat back-heel from Rowson before unleashing a terrific shot into the bottom corner of the net.

City continued to huff and puff after the break without looking particularly dangerous in front of goal and manager Ray McKinnon made a triple substitution after 13 minutes replacing Gerry McGlauchlan, Greg Cameron and David McKenna with Trouten, Ferguson and Carcary. This move had an almost immediate impact as City began to exert a fair degree of pressure on the Stenny goal and this paid off with quarter of an hour remaining when Feguson broke free on the right and squared the ball across the face of the goal for Trouten who blasted a close-range shot past a helpless Chris Smith in the Stenny goal. City continued to push forward but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring when a shot from former City midfielder Bryan Hodge hit the base of the post before being cleared.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Alloa Athletic 4 Albion Rovers 1

Comfortable Home Win for Wasps

Ayr United 1 Arbroath 1

Lichties Grab Vital Win

Queen of the South 2 East Fife 2

Fifers Gain Vital Point

Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 3

Great Away Win For Loons