Match Report - By John Hoey

Greenock Morton 0 Brechin City 2

Brechin City retained fourth spot in the League One table and gave their play-off hopes a massive boost with a fine 2-0 victory against title contenders Morton at Cappielow.

Bobby Barr with a penalty and Jamie Masson with a free-kick were the all important goal-scorers for City who thoroughly deserved their victory.

City manager Ray McKinnon recalled Colin Hamilton and Bobby Barr to the starting line-up but there was no place for Craig Storie who had failed a late fitness test.

City threatened after just three minutes when Jamie Masson picked up the ball around twenty yards from the Morton goal and played a good pass forward to Bobby Barr who cut into the box and fired in a short which was saved by Derek Gaston.

Morton threatened at the other end three minutes later when Declan McManus raced clear of Darren McCormack and drilled in a right-foot drive which was parried for a corner by Graeme Smith.

Home keeper Gaston was called into action again in the 9th minute when he saved from Andy Jackson after great work from Craig Molloy had created the opportunity and seconds later at the other end, Smith brought off a good save from Thomas O'Ware.

City hit back and a Robert Thomson drive was tipped over the bar by Gaston after thirteen minutes and seven minutes later Jackson did well to hold up the ball just outwith the home penalty area before releasing Barr who cut into the box before slotting the ball home but unfortunately the linesman already had his flag up for offside.

Play was swinging from end to end and it was the hosts turn to come close a minute later when the ball was played out wide to McManus who looked at least a yard offside, but the flag stayed down and the striker pushed ahead before firing in a shot which brought off a brilliant save from Smith.

Morton came close again a minute later when the ball was played across the face of the goal to Peter MacDonald whose first-time shot brought off another great save from Smith.

City hit back and a good move between Jackson and Thomson in the 27th minute ended with the ball being whipped from the latter's feet by Sean Crighton.

Morton then surged forward with Ross Forbes hitting a drive just wide of the target with Smith bringing off a good save from McManus seconds later.

Morton were first to threaten after the break when MacDonald flighted in a good free-kick into the City box for O 'Ware who rose above the City defence to power in a header but Smith was equal to the task.

Both sides made substitutions in the 61st minute with Ewan McNeil coming on for the injured Gerry McLauchlan and Jamie McCluskey replacing Rikki Lamie for the hosts and the Morton sub almost grabbed the opener ten minutes later when he raced clear of the City defence and drilled in a shot but Smith brought off another fine save.

Play swung back to the other end almost immediately when Barr made ground on the left and delivered a good ball across the edge of the penalty area for Gary Fusco whose right-foot drive was well wide of the target and City pushed forward again just a couple of minutes later when Thomson did well to force his way forward wide on the right and deliver a good ball into the Morton box which was blasted away for a corner.

Morton then grabbed the initiative when Kilday picked up a pass wide on the right and crossed into the box for McCluskey who fired well wide.

City though hit back and moved up the field to grab a dramatic opener in the 78th minute. Barr picked up the ball just outside the box and moved forward, beating a couple of home defenders in the process before he was brought down by Kilday. Referee Colin Steven had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Bobby stepped up to blast the ball past Gaston.

A shocked home side tried hard to get back into the game but City made sure of the points with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Barr was again in the thick of the action collecting the ball around 20 yards from goal before being brought down by McCluskey and Masson stepped up to blast a wonderful free-kick past a helpless Gaston.