Match Report - By Grant Hood

Brechin City 2-2 Livingston

Fans who turned up to Glebe Park saw Darren Dods' Brechin City score more goals in 7 second half minutes than an ultimately successful City side managed in 4 full games last season against the team who had run away with the Ladbrokes League One Title.

A spirited second half display which caused real menace to a team undefeated in the season so far, confounded the pundits and saw fight-back goals from Kalvin Orsi and Finn Graham secure the Glebe Park side's first point in the second tier of Scottish Football for over 11 years.

Manager Darren Dods made 4 changes to team which lost with something of a whimper at Queen of the South, with James Dale and Aron Lynas returning to the starting line-up following suspension, and starts too for both Jordan Sinclair and Kalvin Orsi. Defender Ryan McGeever remained sidelined serving the second of a two-game suspension – along with long term injury victim Euan Smith.

A confident Livingston side started the game on the front foot, with a 20-yard strike from Dylan Mackin going narrowly over the bar within 2 minutes. City had an encouraging early goal threat of their own as Finn Graham threatened down the left, and the Fifer’s cross was diverted goalwards by Andy Jackson, only for former Hearts and Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander to make a smart save down at his post.

City survived a penalty box stramash with Mullen and Mackin both creating havoc, and shortly afterwards Willie Dyer came to the home side’s rescue clearing another Mackin effort off the line after Alan Lithgow headed a corner back across goal.

Livingston got the breakthrough after 25 minutes when Jackson Longridge forced his way into the box, and a home tackle saw the ball fall perfectly for DYLAN MACKIN to stroke the ball home low past ‘Buzz’.

Danny Mullen then shot wide after a poor clearing header from the homesters before, in a similar manner to the previous weekend at Dumfries, City conceded a second – and soft – goal just before half-time. An innocuous passage of play down the visitors left saw a ball pulled back into the 6-yard box to find SCOTT PITTMAN in splendid isolation who had the easiest of opportunities to prod the ball home.

City started the second half with a renewed determination, as an 18-yard snapshot from Kalvin Orsi went “straight down the keepers’ throat” before 30 seconds had elapsed. Livingston replied with a volley from Rafa De-Vita whistling narrowly past.

The home side found themselves back in the game by scoring their first second-tier goal at Glebe Park since a 1-1 draw with Queen of the South all the way back in April 2006. A through ball was latched on to by KALVIN ORSI who retained possession despite a challenge from Alan Lithgow and blasted a fine shot past the right hand of a diving Neil Alexander.

Seven minutes later City were on level terms when a cross from Andy Jackson on City’s left resulted in a first time shot from FINN GRAHAM nestling in the back of the net – much to the joy of players, those in the City technical area and the home supporters.

Moments later a header from Andy Jackson looped narrowly wide, before Orsi flashed the ball across goal with no takers. Livingston remained dangerous with substitutes Dale Carrick and Nicky Cadden at the forefront of their attacking threat – and City substitute Isaac Layne worked hard to do the same as the game went through its final stages.

A stoppage time free kick from Cadden was slightly too high, and was the last action of the match. The final whistle blew to see City secure their first Ladbrokes Championship point and move off the bottom of the League. Of perhaps greater importance was the quality of the second half performance which should give the players and management a renewed sense of belief and optimism for what lies ahead.