Match Report - By John Hoey

Stenhousemuir 2 Brechin City 2

Brechin City won the point they needed to clinch their place in the play-offs after a 2-2 draw against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

All four goals came in a frantic opening twenty minute spell with the Warriors grabbing a two-goal lead after just eleven minutes but City hit right back and goals from Andy Jackson and Alan Trouten won them a share of the spoils and ensured their place in the play-offs.

Brechin City manager Ray McKinnon made no changes to the side that defeated Dunfermline so convincingly last Saturday.

The Warriors grabbed the initiative right from the kick-off and put immediate pressure on the City goal. A Colin MacMenamin shot within the first minute was tipped away for a corner by Graeme Smith and from the resultant kick, Martin Grehan rose above the City defence to nod home the opener.

Stenny continued to press and Paul McMullan did well to beat a couple of defenders before crossing into the box but the City defence cleared away the danger.

They had less luck however, three minutes later when Stenny doubled their lead when Alan Lithgow floated a superb free-kick into the top right hand corner of the net.

City hit back and they reduced the deficit with in a minute when Andy Jackson swept the ball home from close-range and Jamie Masson should have made it 2-2 just a minute later when he found himself clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat but he uncharacteristically fired his shot a couple of inches wide of the target.

Stenny then picked up the initiative with another great move down the right but Ross Meechan fired his shot well wide of the target.

Play then swung to the other end with Bobby Barr moving swiftly forward before releasing Alan Trouten who took a touch before unleashing a great drive which gave Greg Fleming in the Stenny goal no chance.

Thee was no let up in the action as the hosts pushed forward in an effort to regain the advantage and McMullan, who was causing all sorts of problems for the City defence had a cracking drive tipped round the post by Smith.

City had a half-chance four minutes later when Jackson pushed the ball through to Trouten but Fleming was quickly off his line to gather the ball at 'Trouts' feet.

Jackson and Trouten combined again ten minutes before the break when 'Jacko' found himself in space wide on the right. He pushed forward and crossed into the box for Trouten who couldn't get any power into his shot and the danger was cleared.

Stenny the pushed into attack with a Ross Meechan shot from the right just eluding Anthony Marenghi, and five minutes before the break a great run and shot from McMullan was well saved by Smith.

The opening minutes of the second-half found most of the play confined to the midfield area with both teams nullifying each other but the hosts had an opportunity in 66minutes when McMullan passed to Meechan who crossed into the box for McMenamin who headed over the bar.

McMullan showed great skill again five minutes later when he turned neatly at the edge of the box and fired in a shot which went inches past.

Grehan was the first player to be shown the yellow card after 71 minutes for dissent and City replaced Masson with Calum Tapping a minute later. Stenny were dealt a severe blow just seconds later when Grehan was shown his second yellow card and a subsequent red for elbowing City's Paul McLean.

City then made their numerical advantage count and played a lot of possession football in the closing stages of the match to ensure they won the point required for their place in the play-offs.

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