Match Report - By John Hoey

Ayr United 2 Brechin City 2

An injury-time goal from full-back Paul McLean won a deserved share of the spoils for Brechin City after a incident-packed and highly competitive match at Somerset Park.

City looked to be facing an uphill struggle when centre-back Graham Hay was sent off after 34 minutes and they looked to be facing an impossible task when Ayr grabbed a two-goal lead just before the break through Michael Moffat and Michael McGowan. However, City reduced the deficit with an Alan Trouten header after 68 minutes and a dramatic injury-time winner from McLean gave the a thoroughly deserved point.

There was a surprise in City's opening line-up with former St Johnstone youth player Chris Tobin being handed his debut in midfield. Otherwise, the City team was on familiar lines with Graeme Smith in goal and a back-four of Paul McLean , Graham Hay, Gerry McGlauchlan and Johnny Brown. Joining Tobin in midfield were Alan Trouten, Allan Walker, Bobby Barr and Steven Robb with Andy Jackson up front.

Ayr had the first opportunity after just four minutes when Smith did well to save a Michael Moffat shot after a great home move involving Scott McGlauchlin, Michael McGowan and Craig Malcolm but City edged their way back into the game and Steven Robb did well to get to the bye-line five minutes later and deliver a good cross into the box for Alan Trouten whose header lacked power and was well wide.

Another great move from the Honest Men after quarter of an hour almost brought the opening goal when McGowan played in Malcolm but his shot was just wide of the target.

City had a half-chance after 21 minutes when a defensive mix-up between Alan Lithgow and Robbie Crawford gave Barr a sight of goal but his right-foot drive was parried by David Hutton and cleared away by the Ayr defence.

City were dealt a real body-blow after 34 minutes when Graham Hay was given his marching orders by referee Don Robertson for a tackle on McGowan with City replacing Tobin with Steven Jackson who took Hay's position in central defence.

The hosts then went all out to grab the opener and it came just a couple of minutes before the break when McGowan passed to Moffat who gave Smith no chance and Ayr doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when a great cross from player-boss Mark Roberts was blasted home by McGowan.

City started the second-half with Craig Molloy on for Robb.

The early stages of the half were dull with Ayr seemingly content to sit and defend their two-goal advantage but they should have made it 3-0 after 65 minutes when a great McGowan drive across the face of the penalty-area found no takers.

The Honest Men were made to pay for this miss eight minutes later when against all the odds, City reduced the deficit.

Paul McLean picked up the ball wide on the right and delivered a great cross into the box for TROUTEN whose looping header gave Hutton no chance.

Ten-man City were now taking the game to Ayr and applying a lot of pressure on the home defence

The hosts though were still dangerous and City had a let-off after 79 minutes when Malcolm made room for himself in the box before steering a right-foot drive just wide of Smith's right-hand post and they came close again four minutes later when a 20 yard drive from McGlauchlin was well held by Smith.

However, City pulled the game out of the fire deep into injury-time when McLEAN fired home from close-range after an Andy Jackson shot had been blocked by Hutton.

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