Match Report - By Grant Hood

Livingston 2 - 1 Brechin City

Having taken Brechin City to the summit of League One in his 50th game in charge last weekend, Manager Darren Dods faced the not insignificant challenge of taking his charges to full-time Livingston in an attempt to try and preserve the Glebe Park side's unbeaten start to the league season.

Although this top-of-the-table clash ultimately went the way of the home side, City were by no means outclassed by their opposition and the performance strongly suggested that the side being re-built for the new season can compete at the top end of League One.

Goals from Danny Mullen and Scott Pittman (propelling them both to the top of the League One scoring charts) put Livingston in the driving seat before Alan Trouten - making a welcome re-appearance from the bench having missed the last 3 matches - pulled a goal back giving City hope in the closing stages.

Manager Dods was able to name an unchanged starting XI, the big news being a place in the opening line-up for goalkeeper Graeme Smith, a doubt right through until matchday following his injury-driven substitution a week prior.

In pleasant overhead conditions City started brightly enough with shots from strikers Ross Caldwell and Andy Jackson both off target in the first 5 minutes. The Glebe Parkers were forced into an early change when Elliot Ford replaced the injured Chris O’Neil before the first quarter of an hour had elapsed. Shortly after, ‘Buzz’ was forced into action for the first time, pulling off a reaction save in a goalmouth melee, and then a corner from Livingston’s right was headed down by Alan Lithgow but the ball was skewed strangely wide by former home striker Liam Buchanan from close in. The dangerous former City trialist was cautioned soon after for simulation inside the City penalty area.

The home side took the lead in 34 minutes. A long high clearance was brought down with an exquisite first touch by Buchanan, allowing him a free run in on goal. His low driven effort was saved well by ‘Buzz’ who could only look on as the ball fell perfectly for the onrushing DANNY MULLEN to slam home instantaneously.

City’s best effort of the half came just before half-time, as a Ross Caldwell pass found Ally Love in the home penalty box. Showing composure and skill, City’s heavily outnumbered frontman got his shot away drawing an impressive save from home keeper Liam Kelly, low at his left hand post.

Half-time: Livi 1 – 0 City

The most notable early efforts in the second half were as a result of City pushing hard to restore parity. A goalmouth scramble, which saw an Andy Jackson effort blocked on the line and home custodian Kelly forced into a sprawling save, served to demonstrate that the visitors were capable of silencing the home fans.

Indeed, all went quiet – momentarily at least – in the 58th minute when what many would see as the game’s turning point arrived. An Andy Jackson headed flick-on saw Ross Caldwell burst clear into a 1-on-1 situation with the home keeper from some 40 yards out. With the home supporters fearing the worst, Ross strode forward confidently only for his touch to desert him as he closed in on Kelly. This forced him wide and, frustratingly for the travelling support and his team-mates alike, his subsequent effort from a narrowing angle was comfortably dealt with by a backtracking home defender.

The significance of this was underlined less than 10 minutes later when Livvy doubled their lead with a superb strike. City squandered possession in midfield, allowing home striker SCOTT PITTMAN to unleash a stunning 20-yard shot which fairly flew past ‘Buzz’ into his top left corner.

The euphoria amongst the home fans was punctured soon after, as City substitute ALAN TROUTEN slammed a cross ball from Willie Dyer into the net off the crossbar after less than 2 minutes on the field.

Sadly for City, any subsequent goal in the closing stages was more likely to be for the Livi Lions, as the home side saw the game out in relative comfort and, in doing so, eased their way to the top slot in League One.

This defeat, whilst disappointing, should not be tinged despondency. In what would be recognised by many as amongst the most challenging of City’s away fixtures of the season, the performance remained at a level which should merit continued optimism for the City faithful as attention turns to next weekend’s visit to Glebe Park of Peterhead – Rory McAllister et al.

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