Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 1 Raith Rovers 1

Brechin City and Raith Rovers shared the spoils after a hard-fought and competitive ninety minutes at Glebe Park which ended 1-1.

Rose Caldwell gave the hosts the lead from the penalty-spot a minute before half-time with Rovers equalising in the 69th minute with a superb Declan McManus free-kick.

Raith enjoyed the lion's share of pressure and possession in the early stages but they were finding the home defence in an uncompromising mood with City keeper Graeme Smith having very little to do during the opening twenty minutes.

City began to come more into the game as the half wore on, but like their opponents, they were finding it difficult to create anything clear-cut in front of goal.

Rovers had a half-chance in the 34th minute when they won a corner on the right with Rudi Skacel flighting a good cross into the box straight to Jean Yves M'Voto who glanced a header just wide of the target and a minute later City keeper Smith was called into action parrying a point-black shot from Declan McManus.

Rovers were piling on the pressure at this stage and M'Voto steered another header just past the post with six minutes of the half remaining.

However, with a minute of the first-half remaining, City were dramatically awarded a penalty when Andy Jackson was brought down in the box by M'Voto with Ross Cladwell,stepping up to blast the spot-kick past Raith keeper Conor Brenan.

Raith hit back and had the ball in the net seconds later though Skacel but he was ruled offside.

Raith began the second-half just as they had begun the first putting immediate pressure on the City rearguard but once again the hosts were standing their ground making it difficult for the Raith forwards to create anything clear-cut

However, the constant pressure from the visitors paid off in the 69th minute when they grabbed the equaliser when Declan McManus slotted home a superb 25 yard free-kick after James Dale had fouled Ross Matthews.

Rovers continued to pile the pressure on in the closing stages with the City defenders working their socks off to keep their goal intact but despite the one-way traffic towards the home goal the Glebe Park men held firm for a hard-fought share of the spoils.