Match Report - By Grant Hood

Ray McKinnon took his team to the Falkirk Stadium in a bid to see Brechin City reach the quarter finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup for the second time in 5 years. This was only the Glebe Parkers’ second ever competitive visit to this venue – an impressive modern arena – albeit the players themselves are more than familiar with it since this is currently home to one of their routine midweek training sessions. City’s previous visit was in January 2006 which resulted in a 2-1 Scottish Cup-Tie victory for The Bairns, with both Craig Nelson and Grant Johnson in City’s opening line-up on the day.

City made a surprise tactical change to the starting XI this time around with Robert Thomson dropping to the bench and a start on the right side of the attack for Ryan Ferguson – his first since October. Despite looking to extend City’s 14-match unbeaten run, the hosts would start as clear favourites, as the majority of the pre-match statistics had City up against it. Falkirk were in more than decent form themselves with only one defeat in 11; this was the 5th Scottish Cup Bairns v City clash, with City’s only victory way back in 1977; and even the referee records showed that match official John McKendrick had taken charge of 4 City Cup-Ties previously with City yet to progress.

Managers will rightly state however that their playing squad can’t do anything about what’s gone before, so both sides set about their tasks as the game started on a crisp sunny winter’s afternoon with each team wearing their conventional home colours.

After early skirmishes at both ends, the opening goal arrived after 11 minutes with the first real attempt on goal. Blair Alston drove a lengthy corner towards the far corner of the penalty box in a move which most likely had its origins in the training ground. After a late and clearly pre-planned run, Luke Leahy looped a header unchallenged back into the danger area. Home No 5 DAVID McCRACKEN won his one-on-one aerial duel with Gerry McLauchlan to direct his header low past Graeme Smith from the centre of the 6-yard box. After a series of bright and fairly even early exchanges, those in the City camp were disappointed to go behind to what many would perceive as a soft, yet imaginative goal.

City hit back with Bobby Barr cutting in from the left and his driven shot from around 12 yards was turned past the post by home keeper Jamie MacDonald. From the corner, former Falkirk youth player Paul McLean won the challenge in the 6-yard box, but his header went wide right of the goal.

Controversy ensued in 23 minutes when lively home frontman Taylor Morgan latched on to hesitation between Darren McCormack and Graeme Smith, with the latter forced to leave his penalty area at speed. In the resultant block challenge, the ball clearly struck “Buzz’s” right hand. With the home fans baying for the referee to take punitive action, none was taken with the referee either unsighted or deeming it to be accidental. Minutes later the ever dangerous Morgan out-sprinted McLauchlan to bore in on goal. His attempt evaded City’s advancing keeper, but was gratefully escorted wide by the backtracking McLauchlan and McLean.

City were next to threaten as Colin Hamilton drove a stinging cross into the danger area and City’s No 9 Andy Jackson expertly diverted a header goalwards. Sadly for City, home keeper MacDonald was alert and made a smart low save. As half-time approached there was a notable milestone for lovers of football triviata, as the newly introduced Vanishing Spray Foam was used for the first time at a City game. Sadly, that was as notable as it would get as the free kick and a subsequent corner came to nothing just before the half drew to a close.

It was a totally re-energised City who started the second half very much on the front foot, taking the game to the hosts. Two impressively penetrative runs from Ryan Ferguson caused concern in the home rearguard, the second in particular creating City’s best chance of the game so far. Fergie’s low driven cross was judged perfectly to cut out the home defence and meet the onrushing Bobby Barr. To the horror of the noisy City fans behind the goal - and Bobby himself - the ball ended up amongst them rather than in the gaping goal as he blazed his right footed effort over from only 6 yards out. However, within 5 minutes the travelling City faithful would be celebrating along with Bobby and his City team-mates.

After another period of sustained City pressure, Barr delivered a corner from the left - one of City’s 7 on the day. After a defensive header clear, Alan Trouten picked up possession outside the penalty box and prodded the ball back into the danger area. With no-one securing possession Gerry McLauchlan tumbled following a challenge from behind by home No 14 Peter Grant. With the referee well positioned to make the decision, a penalty was awarded amid furious protests from the homesters. City’s top scorer ALAN TROUTEN stepped up to take responsibility. Despite goalkeeper MacDonald diving to his right and getting his hand to the ball, he was unable to stop the ball hitting the net. This saw City draw level on 55 minutes, and deservedly so following their bright opening to the second half. This was Trouts’ 12th goal of the season, and his 4th from the penalty spot as City fans were treated to a close-up view of his familiar goal celebration stance.

Amongst a series of substitutions – City replaced Ferguson and Molloy with Thomson and Storie, and Falkirk replaced Alston with Smith – Falkirk striker Taylor Morgan was profligate inside the City penalty area twice in quick succession. Firstly from a cut-back on Falkirk’s right by David Smith he skied an attempt spectacularly over the bar from around the penalty spot. Shortly after, from another cross on the right – this time from Kieran Duffy – City were rather more fortunate as his headed effort rebounded to safety off the face of the cross bar, with “Buzz” only able to look on. This flurry of action also saw Morgan pick up the first yellow card of the game.

The action continued to swing from end-to-end as both sides sought a crucial second goal. A drive from Alan Trouten was comfortably collected by MacDonald in his midriff, and a 35-yard drive from Will Vaulks was equally comfortable for Graeme Smith due to the deflection which took the sting out of it.

As the game entered its closing stages, City’s exceptional work rate began to falter slightly against their full time opponents, and in 79 minutes The Bairns clinched the tie. An incisive run from Rory Loy saw him enter the penalty area on Falkirk’s left, gliding at pace past a crumbling City defence. His low shot from close range was blocked well by Graeme Smith, but to the joy and relief of the home fans, the ball fell kindly to home sub DAVID SMITH who, from 3 yards out, managed to squeeze the ball home despite the valiant attempts from Colin Hamilton on the goal line. It was cruel on City, who now had just over 10 minutes to save the tie.

Aberdeen loanee Craig Storie connected well to shoot from the ‘D’ but his effort was instantly blocked. It rebounded to City full-back Colin Hamilton who, from fully 40 yards out, saw home keeper MacDonald dive full length to his left to push the stunningly powerful low drive past the upright. Moments later Hammy become the first City player to be cautioned for a midfield foul.

Falkirk too remained dangerous against an understandably tiring City side, with David Smith pulling a shot wide right under pressure from Gary Fusco and Tom Taiwo seeing his effort timeously blocked by a desperate Gerry McLauchlan lunge.

With 4 minutes to go, and in attempt to force a second equaliser, City’s Management Team replaced Bobby Barr with full-back Ewan McNeil in a ploy to put additional pressure on the home defence by pushing Colin Hamilton into a full-on attacking role.

On 88 minutes, the game’s biggest talking point arrived. City sub, the perpetually threatening Robert Thomson, broke into Falkirk’s penalty box. He tumbled at pace following a challenge from home defender Kieran Duffy. As eyes turned toward the match referee, Mr McKendrick’s raised arm initially suggested he was about to point to the penalty spot for a second time, but to the incredulity of the City players, supporters and those technical area, opted instead to caution the lively City striker for simulation.

As the game entered 3 minutes of stoppage time, Falkirk replaced Morgan with Biabi, and even at this stage The Glebe Parkers continued to seek an all important leveller. MacDonald rose well under pressure from Hamilton to clutch a long high diagonal cross from Ewan McNeil, and in the dying seconds the home custodian was relieved to grab a deflected cross at the second attempt after initially spilling it inside his 6-yard box.

And that was it. City’s proud 14 game unbeaten run had come to an end. Match statistics had City ahead in terms of possession, shots on target and corners – but sadly, not the crucial goals-scored statistic which matters. More importantly, the opportunity to progress to the lucrative quarter final stage of the nation’s top Cup tournament had evaded Ray McKinnon and his men this time around.

Despite the painful outcome, there was much for those of a City persuasion to be proud of as The Glebe Parkers prepare to enter the “business end” of the season. With an 11 game unbeaten league run intact, and a backlog of 3 midweek games to catch up on, the City squad are entitled to take on this challenging prospect with a hugely positive mindset.

Finally, a word must go out to the 186 City supporters who populated the away end amongst the attendance of 2083. Although understandably outnumbered, the vociferous backing was hugely appreciated by the players and Management Team alike.