Match Report - By Grant Hood

Brechin City finished last season with penalty shoot out drama. This Betfred Cup Tie against county rivals Forfar Athletic reached a similar conclusion - albeit this time without the heightened sense of drama that goes with promotion.

City conceded an injury time penalty which saw the game end 1-1 and, in this competition, it's straight to a penalty shoot out to try and secure a bonus point to carry forward into the group standings. City emerged victorious in this, winning the shoot-out 4-3 with home debutant Kalvin Orsi slamming home the deciding spot kick.

In a significant little milestone in Brechin City history, the players took to the field wearing squad numbers for the first time, a by-product of City’s promotion to The Ladbrokes Championship.

Brechin started brightly with shots from James Dale and Willie Dyer both blocked before Andy Jackson headed wide from a corner. A free-kick from impressive Forfar midfielder Dylan Easton flashed across the home goal before Euan Spark missed a great chance to score his first goal for City but he missed his kick after Isaac Layne had outmuscled the experienced Simon Mensing.

At the other end former City frontman Jim Lister then in turn outmuscled Paul McLean and set up Matthew Aitken whose first time blast was turned wide by ‘Buzz’ in the City goal, before Aitken again tested the home keeper who did well to turn his looped header on to the crossbar and over.

City took the lead in 67 minutes when Willie Dyer picked out ISAAC LAYNE in the centre circle. The big striker drove forward and, choosing to ignore passing options, fired a terrific effort past Marc McCulloch in the Forfar goal from over 20 yards. His reward was to be substituted within a couple of minutes, and his replacement Kalvin Orsi created a chance for Andy Jackson when his driven cross from the by-line was met by ‘Jacko’ who couldn’t quite divert the ball on target.

Forfar were by no means out of the tie, and substitute David Cox came close when his first effort ricocheted back to him, and his second only just missed the junction of post and bar.

Drama was to follow though as, just after the stopwatch had passed 90 minutes, Willie Dyer appeared to have made a clean tackle on Cox, but the referee deemed otherwise and saw fit to award a spot kick to The Loons, giving the opportunity for MARK MILLAR to step up and fire the ball past ‘Buzz’ despite the home keeper going the right way.

Competition rules dictated that the game would then head straight to a penalty shoot-out to decide who would earn a bonus point to carry into the Group A table.

The action took place in front of the David H Will Stand, and after 5 penalties each it was 3-3. The Loons were shooting first with successful spot kicks from Mark Miller, Andy Munro and Scott McBride – and Buzz saving twice, both low to his left, from Dylan Easton and David Cox. City had scored through Willie Dyer, Sean Crighton and Andy Jackson, with keeper McCulloch saving efforts from James Dale and Ally Love. As the shoot out entered the sudden death phase, Ousman See blasted his effort spectacularly over the crossbar, leaving Kalvin Orsi the opportunity to score for City and grab that bonus point. He did.