Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 2 Forfar Athletic 1

Brechin City won the first Angus derby of the season defeating near neighbours Forfar Athletic by 2-1 at Glebe Park.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for City who dominated proceedings for long spells in the game but the Loons dramatically almost salvaged an unlikely point in the final couple of minutes when referee Euan Anderson sensationally awarded them two penalties in quick succession after Chris Templeman and then Gavin Swankie went down in the box after challenges by Gerry McGlauchlan and keeper Graeme Smith. Although Iain Campbell converted the first penalty, Smith performed heroics second later when he saved Campbell's second penalty of the afternoon to ensure that the points deservedly stayed at Glebe Park.

City started the game with Smith in goal and a back-four of Paul McLean, Graham Hay, Gerry McGlauchlan and Johnny Brown. Bobby Barr and Steven Robb were in the wide midfield positions with Stuart Anderson and Craig Molloy in central midfield. Andy Jackson sat just behind main striker Alan Trouten.

The opening stages of the game were well contested with most of the action being confined to the middle of the park but City created the first opportunity after 17 minutes when an Anderson shot took a slight deflection before being saved by Darren Hill. However, the opener came just a minute later. Jackson fired in a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection off a Loons defender into the path of Craig MOLLOY who wasted no time in dispatching a low right-foot drive into the bottom corner of the net.

The visitors responded immediately when Swankie picked up the ball wide on the right and delivered a great cross into the box for former City striker Paul McManus who headed just over the bar.

Another former City player, Gary Fusco tried a shot from 30 yards just on the half-hour mark but it was well wide of the target.

A great pass from Anderson sent Barr away on the left but his cross was diverted for a corner by Mark Baxter. Jackson then sent a great pass through to Ryan Donnelly who had earlier replaced the injured Steven Robb but Hill brought off a great save. Jackson was again in the action just a mi ute before the break when he side-footed a Molloy free-kick just inches past the post.

City continued on the attack after the break and they came close to adding to their tally within two minutes when Donnelly played a quick pass to Barr who in turn released Jackson but his shot went inches past the post.

The Loons had a chance to narrow the deficit a minute later when an uncharacteristic slip from Hay allowed Swankie a clear sight of goal but Smith came quickly off his line to narrow the angle and the danger was averted.

City though, were looking dangerous every time they went up the park and they deservedly doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.

Jackson played a great pass to Barr who in turn sent a wonderful diagonal pass to Alan TROUTEN who picked his spot in the net from around two yards out.

It should have been 3-0 just five minutes later when another great pass from Jackson saw Trouten bore in on goal, but unfortunately his shot came off the base of the post before being cleared.

City were playing some great football and were well worth their lead, but with the points looking to be secure, Forfar dramatically reduced the deficit within the last minute when they won a penalty after former City striker Chris Templeman went crashing in the box after a challenge by McGlauchlan. Iain Campbell duly stepped up to convert the penalty but the controversy and drama were far from over when the Loons were awarded a further penalty deep into injury-time. Swankie went sprawling in the box after a challenge by Smith but the big keeper made amends when he superbly saved Campbell's second spot-kick of the day to ensure that the points deservedly remained at Glebe Park.

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