Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 2 Stenhousemuir 2

Brechin City picked up their first league point of 2017 after a pulsating match against Stenhousemuir which finished 2-2.

City got off to the perfect start when Andy Jackson fired them ahead in the third minute but the Warriors hit back to equalise through Willis Furtado with an Oliver Shaw
strike after quarter of an hour giving them the advantage.

City fought back after the break and they levelled the match with a close-range shot from Dougie Hill four minutes into the second-half.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 73rd minute when David Marsh was sent off for a second bookable offence but despite almost continuous home pressure in the closing stages, City were unable to breach the Warriors rearguard.

City boss Darren Dods brought James Dale back into his opening line-up while Alan Trouten who missed last week's match at Livingston because of suspension found a place on the bench.

The hosts started the match at a whirlwind pace and they grabbed the opening goal with barely three minutes on the clock.

Chris O'Neil picked up the ball wide on the left and pushed forward before crossing into the box for James Dale who managed to lob it forward into the path of Jackson whose first-time drive went straight into the bottom corner of the net.

City's celebrations though had hardly died down before the Warriors levelled the match three minutes later. Kieran Millar picked up the ball just in front of the home penalty area and played it out wide on the right to Furtado who took a touch before firing home a superb left-foot drive into the top corner of the net.

Alan Cook then sent a couple of free-kicks wide of the target before the visitors grabbed the lead in the 16th minute when Shaw picked up a pass from Colin McMenamin deep in the City box and drilled home a a terrific right-foot drive giving Graeme Smith no chance.

Stenny then enjoyed a fair degree of territorial advantage but City had a half-chance in the 33rd minute when David Crawford brought off a point-blank save from Ally Love and seconds later at the other end Smith was called into action, tipping a Shaw shot over the bar.

Stenny had the first opportunity of the second-half when Cook sent a low drive inches past the post, City hit back however and they grabbed the equaliser a minute later when Dougie Hill blasted the ball into the roof of the net following a Liam Watt corner and Watt tested keeper Crawford shortly afterwards with a 20 yard drive which the keeper managed to hold.

Stenny then pushed forward and looked set to grab the lead for the second time in the 52nd minute when Cook raced in on the home goal but a superb tackle from Gareth Rodger averted the danger with Shaw blasting the rebound well over the bar.

Play was swinging from end to end and Watt then tried another long-range shot which was inches over the bar and at the other end just after the hour mark Smith was called into action bringing off two saves in quick succession from Furtado and Cook.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men in the 73rd minute when David Marsh received his marching orders from referee Mike Roncone for a second bookable offence and six minutes later City made their first substitution with Alan Trouten replacing Gary Fusco.

City were powering forward in the closing stages but the ten men Warriors defence held firm despite intense home pressure.