Match Report - By John Hoey

Forfar Athletic 3 Brechin City 1

Brechin City went down to their second successive league defeat at the hands of Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic at Station Park.

Dale Hilson with a double (one from the penalty-spot) and Danny Denholm were the Loons goal-scorers while ColinHamilton scored City's goal.

It was a disappointing performance from City who looked shaky in defence during the opening 45 minutes and although they improved immeasurably in the second-half they just couldn't find a way through a solid Forfar defence with Hilson wrapping up victory for the hosts from the penalty-spot nine minutes from time.

Manager Ray McKinnon made one change from last Saturday's team with Gary Fusco coming in for the suspended Greg Cameron while new signing Kyle McAusland was on the bench.

The visitors were lucky not to find themselves a goal down after six minutes when a mistake from Darren McCormack allowed Denholm a clear run on goal. He in turn passed the ball across the penalty-area to Gavin Swankie who looked set to score, but Graeme Smith brought off a wonderful save to turn the ball around the post.

The Loons threatened again just minutes later when a dangerous cross from Omar Kader was turned away for a corner by Jamie McCormack.

A goal just had to come, and it arrived two minutes later when a great cross from Kader found Denholm who blasted the ball into the roof of the net, giving Smith no chance.

City though nearly equalised in the 20th minute when Gary Fusco fired in a shot from 25 yards which went narrowly past Rab Douglas's right-hand post but the fast-flowing football from Forfar was causing the City defence a lot of problems and Swankie was unlucky again in the 24th minute when he fired wide from good position.

City again came back with an Alan Trouten drive four minutes later going narrowly over the bar

The Loons then regained the ascendancy with Smith being called into action to gather a Stephen Husband shot in the 34th minute but the keeper could do nothing about the Loons second goal which came just a minute later.

Great play again from Kader on the right saw him dribble his way into the penalty-box and pass across the face of the goal for Hilson who fired home from around five yards out.

City fought back and Trouten was very unlucky to see his diagonal shot from the left come off the top of the bar before being cleared by the Forfar defence but the visitors had better luck a minute before the break when they reduced the deficit. Great play from Trouten created the opportunity for Hamilton who steered a great left-foot shot into the top corner of the net.

City took the game to their opponents after the break and they had a chance to draw level in the 53rd minute when Trouten passed into the box for Hamilton who shot just past the post.

Forfar came right back, and a long-range shot from Denholm was well wide of the target.

City at this stage, were looking the likelier of the two teams and they were unlucky not to draw level in the 55th minute when great play from Bobby Barr on the left saw him cross into the box for Andy Jackson, who glanced his header just over the bar.

Great work from Barr again three minutes later saw him deliver a good cross into the Loons penalty-area, but Douglas was equal to the task and gathered the ball safely.

Forfar then had an opportunity to increase their advantage when Kader raced clear and passed to Swankie who shot just wide of the target.

City then had a couple of chances when a Trouten drive was blocked by Douglas and a minute later Hamilton headed another great cross from Barr just over.

The Loons though wrapped up victory from the penalty-spot with nine minutes remaining.

Hilson collected the ball on the left side of the penalty-area and as he turned to move forward he was impeded by Paul McLean. Referee Kevin Graham had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty-spot and Hilson stepped up to blast the spot-kick past Smith for his second and his team's third goal.

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