Match Report - By John Hoey

Albion Rovers 1 Brechin City 0

Brechin City went down to their second successive defeat after a 1-0 win for Albion Rovers at the Exsel Group Stadium.

City dominated the opening 45 minutes but couldn't find a way past a resolute home defence but it was Rovers who had the upper hand after the break with ex City defender Mick Dunlop blasting home the winning goal with 20 minutes remaining.

City manager Darren Dods included new signing Liam Watt in his starting line-up while Ross Caldwell replaced the injured Connor McLennan up front.

Most of the early action was confined to midfield with neither side creating anything clear-cut in front of goal but the first opportunity fell to Rovers in the 12th minute when the ball was played out wide on the right to Mark Ferry who pushed forward and crossed into the box for Scott McBride who just failed to connect with the visitors defence clearing their lines.

City hit back four minutes later when Alan Trouten picked up a pass 20 yards from goal and dribbled past a couple of defenders before playing in Ally Love who beat one defender and was in the process of firing in a shot before the ball was whipped from his feet by another Rovers defender.

City pushed forward again and they had another opportunity four minutes later when Watt picked up a loose ball and took a couple of steps before firing in a right-foot drive which was parried by Rovers keeper Ross Stewart with Caldwell just failing to connect with the rebound.

Albion then went into attack and they had a half-chance in the 26th minute when Ross Davidson forced his way towards the City goal and tried a shot from around 20 yards but it was well wide of the target.

The final chance of the half came the visitors way three minutes before the break when Willie Dyer picked up the ball on the left and delivered a cross which fell just outwith the penalty-box for Aaron Lynas who blasted the ball wide of the target.

Rovers started the second-half on the front foot and Graeme Smith had to look sharp to tip a header from Paul Willis over the bar in the 47th minute and Davidson tried a speculative shot from 20 yards five minutes later which trundled past Smith's right-hand post.

It was City's chance to try something speculative in the 58th minute when Love picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and blasted in a shot but it was well over the bar.

Rovers were beginning to dominate the proceedings and Willis blasted a free-kick just past Smith's left-hand post in the 67th minute. However, the home side's pressure paid off in the 70th minute when a short period of sustained pressure on the City goal ended with former Brechin defender Dunlop blasting the ball past Smith.

The hosts were now pushing forward at every opportunity and Smith palmed a fierce drive from Fisher around the post and a minute later City made their first substitution with player-boss Darren Dods replacing Finn Graham.

City tried to come back in the closing stages of the match but Rovers were well in control and we're giving nothing away.